Images(3)

Cockle Pot

Dateca. 1785

Artist/Maker Leeds Pottery

OriginEngland, Yorkshire, Leeds

MediumLead-glazed earthenware (cream-colored earthenware / creamware)

DimensionsOH: 16"; ODiam: 13 1/4"

Credit LineGift of Mr. & Mrs. William H. Murdoch, Jr.

Object number1972-14,A-C

DescriptionCockle dish of essentially spherical shape. The bottom portion of hemispherical shape but with a cavetto-molded band encircling the center and creating upper and lower lobes. The upper edge of the bottom with a complex stacked molding of a cavetto surmounted by a torus. The inside of this with two rabats to receive both covers. This over a round pedestal with ovolo molding. The pedestal on a square footed base. At each corner is an elaborated curving finial. The feet on the base flare outward and spread at the bottom. The skirt between the feet curves down in a single arch. The edge of the feet and the skirts with a slightly proud rectangular bead. The inner cover hemispherical in form, with a band of cavetto molding encircling the mid-way point, creating a lobbed effect, and the top surmounted by a small, flat-ish knob. The outer cover of similar shape and disposition, but taller and with a flat top.

The top surmounted by a conch-form finial. Comparable shells are applied at four equidistant points around the base, serving as "handles." The skirts and both lobes of the upper cover with piercing in designs of commas, trefoils, diamonds, circles, and ovals. The piercing on the cover alternating with four panels of applied molded shells and seaweed. This is staggered between the upper and lower lobes. Similar applied shell and seaweed moldings are applied as swags between the four conch shell handles on the base. The shells likely molded from life.

The underside glazed and concave in form with an air hole. The decidedly greenish glaze over buff body. The glaze with heavy puddling and some crazing. The contact points all glazed.
Label Text"Cockle Pots" came in a variety of sizes and degrees of ornament. This one is a more elaborate example. Objects such as this were used for serving a seafood chowder called in the period cockle soup or potpourri. The sea-themed decoration on the outside of the pot invited diners to guess what was inside, perhaps a carry-over from the medieval tradition of serving food in dishes shaped like their contents. Owning the object was also an opportunity to display one's knowledge of the natural world.
Inscribedno
Markingsno
ProvenanceEx Coll: DC Towner, Leeds
with Jellinek and Sampson, London

Exhibition(s)