Commemorative Jug, Buffalo, William Moss, 1796

Item Number: J60
Shape Type: Jug
Pattern Name: Buffalo
Date: c. 1796
Dimensions:  H 12.5″
Maker: Unknown
Maker‘s Mark:  Unmarked
Description:
An large extraordinarily rare earthenware commemorative jug printed underglaze in the Buffalo pattern. The jug was made to order to commemorate the death of Mr. William Moss and is dated 1796. A highly decorative epitaph was hand painted, underglaze, in brown. The epitaph reads as follows:
“Who lies here
Why who do you think [?]
poor Earthen ware
come give him some drink
What a dead man drink [?]
A good reason why
for when he was alive
he was always dry
William Mofs
1796″
The central pattern is similar to Spode’s Buffalo type B (See Copeland, p. 107, for an example on a dessert dish.) The jug is unmarked and it is probably not Spode due to the very distinct large and elaborate butterfly border pattern on the outer rim and a modified version of the latter on the inner rim which is not a known Spode border. Floral sprays in four distinct patterns are printed around the jug in areas that are not covered by the central pattern. The pattern on the handle is a modified version of the more traditional Buffalo border pattern. The epitaph, given its humorous tone, was possibly composed by surviving friends of the deceased Mr. Moss. Maker is unknown. This item was featured in Extraordinary British Transferware, 1780-1840, by R & R Halliday, p. 218, Schiffer Publishing, 2012. It is also documented in Chinoiserie: Printed British Ceramics in the Chinese Style, 1750-1900, by R. Halliday and L. Zeller, Gomer Press, 2018.