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Maker/s

Josiah Wedgwood & Sons (factory)

Category

stoneware
caneware (sub-category)

Name

game pie dish

Name

cover

Name

liner

Description

Caneware, the decoration of the dish and its cover (A) moulded in one with the body. There are prominent vertical mould marks at either end of the dish. The interior of the dish is glazed, but not the underside of the cover. The liner (B) is of glazed stoneware. The dish is decorated on the exterior of the sides with swags composed of game and fruiting vine; on the lid there are four trophies of dead game, and a rabbit finial.

Production Notes

The game pie dish was no. 2006 in the Wedgwood Shape Book rebound in 1916 with watermark for 1794. Also no. 2006 in the 1880 illustrated Catalogue. The Oven Books give 1794 for the first pie dishes.

Richard Lovell Edgworth suggested the idea of cane ware pie dishes to Josiah Wedgwood in a letter of 10 March 1786. Captain Jesse, in his Life of Beau Brummel Esq. Commonly Called Beau Brummell, 1844 stated 'The scarcity two years after Brummel's retirement, viz in 1800, was so great that consumption of flour for pastry was forbidden in the Royal Household, rice being used instead. The distillers left off malting and Wedgwood made dishes to represent piecrust.' This form, however, seems to have been introduced after Josiah's death. The remained in production for many years. In 1851 the list of exhibits for the Great Exhibition included 'Oval game pie, cane colour.'

Production Place

Etruria (factory) (place)

Staffordshire (factory) (county)

England (factory) (country)

Technique Description

caneware, the decoration of the dish and its cover moulded in one with the body.

Dimensions

height: (dish and cover): 13.5 cm
length: (dish and cover): 22.8 cm
height: (liner (B)): 6.6 cm
length: (liner (B)): 18.8 cm
width: (liner (B)): 13 cm

Period

mid 19th century
Victoria I

Date

circa 1850

Provenance

given: Humphrey, Mrs Laurence 1912-11-05 (Filtered for: Applied Arts collection)

unknown before donor

Given by Mrs Laurence Humphrey

Inscriptions/Marks

1. mark
   Position: on base of dish
   Method: impressed
   Content: WEDGWOOD/C7R/T
   Description: 'T' is sideways
   
2. mark
   Position: on base of dish
   Method: impressed
   Content: 8
   

Documentation

1. Captain Jesse (1844) Life of Beau Brummel Esq. Commonly Called Beau Brummell,
   [comments: Ref.]
2. Meteyard, Eliza (1875) The Wedgwood Handbook, London [page: 316]
   [comments: Ref. p. 316, Richard Lovell Edgworth suggested the idea of cane ware pie dishes to Josiah Wedgwood in a letter of 10 March 1786.]
3. Reilly, Robin (1980) The Dictionary of Wedgwood, Woodbridge [page: 163]
   [comments: Ref. The Fitzwilliam's example was accessioned as c. 1800 but see p. 163: `In 1850 Wedgwood introduced a glazed stoneware which could be used for cooking meat or game in the oven. A dish or 'liner' of this ware was then placed inside the warmed game pie dish to be brought to the table. These pie dishes with liners were produced in four sizes, the largest being supplied in quantity to the university colleges. After about 1840 the relief decoration was moulded in one piece with the body, not sprigged as on earlier examples.' This suggests that the FWM's example is later than the date given to it on accession.]
4. Pendergast, David M. The Game's Afoot: Wedgwood's Caneware Pie Dishes, [page: pp. 42-8]
   Source title: Ars Ceramica (1995)
   [comments: Ref. For a discussion of several types of caneware pie dishes, pp. 42-48.]
5. Edwards, Diana Recent Research in the Wedgwood Archives: Early Developments in Caneware, [page: pp. 36-39]
   Source title: Ars Ceramica (2000)
   [comments: Ref. p. 38, Richard Lovell Edgworth suggested the idea of Cane ware pie dishes to Josiah Wedgwood in a letter of 10 March 1786.]
6. Blake Roberts, Gaye (1984) Wedgwood in London, 225th Anniversary Exhibition 1759-1984, London [page: p.51]
   [comments: Cf. A dish in the Wedgwood Museum, Barlaston, see p. 51, O.20, a game pie dish marked 'WEDGWOOD', '2', and '10' and measuring 16.5 x 24.2 cm (6½" x 9½".]
7. Phillips (1998) Good European Ceramics, Glass and Enamels, London: Phillips [page: p. 271] 3-4 June 1998)
   [comments: Cf. Another nineteenth century dish, p. 271, no. 429. No liner.]
8. Pendergast, David M. The Game's Afoot: Wedgwood's Caneware Pie Dishes, [page: p. 47]
   Source title: Ars Ceramica (1995)
   [comments: Cf. Two game pie dishes, p. 47, fig. 5.]
9. Reilly, Robin (1995) Wedgwood, The New Illustrated Dictionary, Woodbridge: Antique Collectors' Club [page: p. 195]
   [comments: Cf. A dish in the Wedgwood Museum, Barlastona game pie dish marked 'WEDGWOOD', '2', and '10' and measuring 16.5 x 24.2 cm (6½" x 9½") , illustrated p. 195]
10. Kerner, Peggy (2007) Game Pie Dishes, New York [page: 2-3]
    Source title: The Wedgwood Society of New York (May 2007)
    [comments: Ref. pp. 2-3, a short article including a recipe for a 'Raised Game Pie']

Other Notes

Accession Number

C.28 & A & B-1912 (Applied Arts)
(Reference Number: 12055; Input Date: 2000-09-08 / Last Edit: 2011-07-22)