Potted Histories

Presented as a leaving gift by Douglas Lodge, Bo’ness, Scotland to Hosea Harrison and his patriotically-named wife, Britannia, this jug celebrates the wedding of Edward, Prince of Wales to Alexandria in 1863. Hosea, a master mariner sailing the coastal route between Suffolk and Scotland, joined Prince of Wales’ Lodge, No. 949, Ipswich in 1866. It features hand-painted symbols including an All Seeing Eye, Treasurer’s keys, Secretary’s quills and a five-pointed star representing friendship.

Rare examples from Toxteth’s Herculaneum Factory, Squire Hargreaves presented a unique punch bowl and jug to Mariners Lodge, Liverpool to commemorate his initiation as a freemason in December 1813. A publican, Hargreaves, enjoyed several glasses of punch before his premature death eight years later. Decorated with symbols such as an All Seeing Eye, egg timer, keys, beehive, stars, spade, compass and crescent moon, the Museum acquired these finely decorated items after the Lodge closed in 2016.

A grateful patron, W W Russell presented this fine Staffordshire transfer print jug to the Halfway House, Challock in c.1850. Recently refurbished as The Stag but constructed in the 1790s, this former coaching inn stands at the intersection of major Kent roads. The black and white transfer design above the carrying grip includes an eighteenth-century Masonic engraving and a band of pink lustre around the rim.

A white ceramic Rockingham jug includes an inscription to Joseph Eames, a coach master initiated as a freemason in 1823 in St George’s Lodge of Unanimity and Fidelity, Petersfield. A purple transferware design on both sides includes a freemason standing at the entrance to a temple within a circular moral text. Rockingham is a term used to describe ornate, styled earthenware, stoneware and porcelain originating at Swinton, South Yorkshire.

Lurking beneath the handle of a transfer-print jug from the Herculaneum Pottery, Toxteth, lies a dedication to the Liverpool Anti-Slavery campaigner, William Roscoe. His friend, Richard Downward, a member of Merchant’s Lodge, Liverpool, supported Roscoe’s 1806 campaign to serve as Member of Parliament. Although not a freemason, Roscoe supported universal charitable and moral aims, summarised as ‘United for the benefit of Mankind’, printed beneath the jug’s Masonic emblems.   

A personal dedication to Brother Hanscomb appears beneath the spout of this Liverpool cream-ware jug. A tallow chandler and soap maker with a factory in Fore Street, Lambeth, Hanscomb was the inaugural Worshipful Master of Prince Edward’s Lodge in October 1792. Appointed Grand Sword Bearer by the Antients’ Grand Lodge two years later, the jug features transfer designs for Royal Arch and Knights Templar ceremonies.

An earthenware jug, with a cream coloured glaze and curled handle, includes a vibrant floral design. It bears an inscription to Andrew Mason, most likely a local mariner initiated in 1812 in St John’s Lodge, Sunderland. This Wearside spot was a centre for pottery manufacture, with white clay and stone imported as ballast on ships from southern England. During its heyday, about 300,000 earthenware items were exported from the Sunderland potteries.

In 1824 the recipient of this jug, John Buckley, was a cotton spinner of Todmorden, Yorkshire and a member of Lodge of Probity, Halifax for over twenty years. Made of Staffordshire blue and purple lusterware, the jug features hand-coloured transfer prints with a masonic emblem repeated on both sides and a charming verse praising freemasonry. The shimmering effect or lustre created by painting with powdered metal paints was popular among 19th Century Staffordshire potteries.  

A fine Staffordshire ware jug dedicated to James Tonkin, who was a master mariner from Falmouth and a member of Lodge of Peace, Joy and Brotherly Love, Penryn. Two black transfer prints decorating its surface feature a patriotic print of a ship at sea flying the Union flag and an unusual emblem with Royal Arch and Knights Templar elements. The silver lustre decoration derives from a platinum paint mix applied to the glazed surface and then fired. 

Presented to George and Catherine Titterton on their wedding in the 1790s, their names appear entwined in a garland of leaves under the spout. The pearlware jug includes red transfer prints of the coat of arms of the Moderns’ Grand Lodge on one side and imagery praising King George III on the other. This patriotic wedding gift reflects countrywide hopes for peace and security in turbulent times as the country prepared for war with France and the King was recovering from illness.

Decorated with floral sprays, this Qianlong coffee pot epitomises exquisite taste from the 1770s. The pot includes the hand painted coat of arms of William Henry, Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh. William, the younger brother of King George III, was initiated as a freemason in Royal Lodge, later Royal Alpha Lodge, in 1766.  Potteries in England rushed to copy similar designs, while China continued to export fine porcelain table wares.

Made to commemorate the initiation of an unknown freemason with the initials G.H. in 1815, the white porcelain jug features gilt decoration. Black transfer prints on both sides of the Moderns’ Grand Lodge and a Knight Templar in a landscape with masonic emblems, commemorate the union between the Moderns’ and Antients’ Grand Lodges. The jug is dedicated to the Duke of Sussex, Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of England, formed a year before the date stated on this pot!