A N N U A L R E P O R T - The Ashmolean Museum

Acquisitions, Gifts and Loans / 39
Teapot
Staffordshire, c.1760. Salt-glazed
stoneware, enamelled with a portrait
and heraldic emblems of Frederick, King
of Prussia, H. 11.0 cm. Bequeathed by
Miss V A Organ.
This rare teapot is painted with a
portrait of Frederick the Great,
inscribed ‘Fred III Prussae Rex’ on
one side, and painted with the
Prussian eagle and inscribed ‘Semper
Sublimis’ on the other. The King of
Prussia was extremely popular in
England during the Seven Years’ War
(1756–63), following the Convention
of Westminster (treaty between
Britain and Prussia) in 1756. The
decoration celebrates England’s alliance with Frederick, the black and white
decoration over the teapot depicting ermine, a reference to royalty.
Four tiles
Spanish, Valencia, probably Burjasot, c.1580–1600. Earthenware, tin-glazed and
painted in blue, orange, yellow, green, and purple black. The four together
comprising a cusped quatrefoil in strapwork, with linking semicircles; the
background marbled, 14.6 cm square, 1.75 cm thick. Presented by Dr Anthony
Ray, F.S.A.
These tiles, probably from San Miguel de los
Reyes, Valencia, are striking examples of the
Flemish mannerist influence on Iberian pottery
and an important extension of the Museum’s
developing collection of Spanish tiles. The
donor is Britain’s leading authority on Spanish
pottery.