Tiles, set of 21

Dateca. 1770

MediumTin-glazed earthenware (delft)

Dimensions5" square

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1968-422,6

DescriptionTwenty-one square tiles. White tin glaze decorated in brown-red with transfer prints of Aesop's fables incorporating animals and people; "88" border of rococo scrolls. Bottom quarter of last tile missing.
Label TextThe scenes on this series of delft tiles are based on an edition of Aesop's Fables compiled by the Reverend Samuel Croxall, which was first published in London in 1722. The engravings have been attributed to Elisha Kirkall. This tile depicts Mercury and Woodsman (Croxall CXI).

Scholar Anthony Ray records forty-five fable tiles from this series, which he believes were engraved by the same person. He cites E. S. Price's identification of Richard Abbey, whose signature is found on transfer-printed creamware, as the engraver.
InscribedNone
MarkingsNone
ProvenanceThomas Benson