Platter
This purple and white transfer-printed earthenware platter made by the Staffordshire firm of James & Ralph Clews features a view of the Penitentiary in Allegheny, Pennsylvania near Pittsburgh. The historic Norman-style stone structure was built in about 1827. In the past, some sources have claimed that the view by Clews was based on a sketch by Swiss artist Karl Bodmer (1809–1893) reproduced as an engraving by Lucas Weber (1811–1860) in "Travels in the Interior of North America, 1832–1834" (1839), an illustrated account of an expedition undertaken by German naturalist Maximilien (1782–1867), Prince of Wied. Bodmer was the documentary artist who accompanied the Prince on the expedition and recorded their journey from Boston to the upper regions of the Missouri River. The Prince's text, issued in English, German and French, was illustrated by eighty-two engravings after Bodmer sketches. The engravings received wide attention in the nineteenth century for their fine renderings of the expanding American frontier. However, if Bodmer's view of the Penitentiary was not published until 1829, five years after Clews went out of business, the engraved version of Bodmer's view could not have been the source of Clews’ composition. It is nevertheless possible that Clews somehow based its view on the original sketch that Bodmer completed and perhaps exhibited sometime between 1832 and 1834. Clews included the view in its series of approximately twenty-three "Picturesque Views" manufactured for the United States export market with borders of foliage, flowers, C-scrolls and exotic birds perched on zigzag meanders. The American Wing's collection contains additional pieces by Clews, including others from the same series. It also contains original works by Bodmer. Refer to the Dictionary for a definition of the term "transfer printing" and for information about Clews.
Artwork Details
- Title: Platter
- Maker: James and Ralph Clews (British, Cobridge, Stoke-on-Trent, active ca. 1818–36)
- Date: ca. 1834
- Geography: Made in Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent, England
- Culture: British (American market)
- Medium: Earthenware, transfer-printed
- Dimensions: 12 7/8 x 15 5/8 in. (32.7 x 39.7 cm)
- Credit Line: Bequest of Mary Mandeville Johnston, from the collection of Mr. and Mrs. Edward W. S. Johnston, 1914
- Object Number: 14.102.4
- Curatorial Department: The American Wing
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James and Ralph Clews (British, Cobridge, Stoke-on-Trent, active ca. 1818–36)
ca. 1824–34
James and Ralph Clews (British, Cobridge, Stoke-on-Trent, active ca. 1818–36)
ca. 1815–ca. 1834
James and Ralph Clews (British, Cobridge, Stoke-on-Trent, active ca. 1818–36)
ca. 1821–ca. 1834
James and Ralph Clews (British, Cobridge, Stoke-on-Trent, active ca. 1818–36)
ca. 1825–ca. 1834
James and Ralph Clews (British, Cobridge, Stoke-on-Trent, active ca. 1818–36)
ca. 1822–ca. 1834
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