Good Feelings & Good Business American & British Commerce after the War of 1812
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HE TREATY OF GHENT, signed on Christmas Eve 1814 between Great Britain and the United States, officially concluded the War of 1812, and officially resumed the once extensive and lucrative British-American trade that had flourished since the Colonial era. Having succeeded in holding off the most powerful nation in the world, the young United States emerged from the War with military victories, accomplishments, heroes, and an immense sense of national pride. The conflict reconfirmed America’s complete independence and therefore served as a catalyst for positive change within the country, encouraging further westward expansion, the development of America’s manufacturing industry, and the growth of its cities and institutions. After the War, British merchants seized the opportunity to re-establish trade connections with America by providing luxury and commonplace goods that the young country still could not manufacture itself. More importantly, they began producing and exporting items that would appeal to the target market’s enhanced nationalism; British-made merchandise decorated with
scenes of America triumphant in battle, heroes of both the War of 1812 and the American Revolution, and images of American landscapes, cities, and its new infrastructure found eager consumers in the Americans keen to celebrate their country’s short, but world-changing history. Many potteries in the Staffordshire region sent representatives to America to better gauge the burgeoning market for patriotic goods, and consequently, produced table and tea wares with scenes of Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Hartford, Washington, Baltimore, and Charleston, many of which were adapted from popular prints of the time. A number of English-made enameled and earthenware items dating to this period – including numerous examples of Staffordshire Historical Blue earthenware with scenes of American cities and waterways – will be offered in Freeman’s upcoming November 13 American Furniture, Folk and Decorative Arts Auction. All are decorated with the English-invented process of transferprinting that revolutionized the speed and cost at which goods could be produced and then exported. Though introduced to the market in the
1750s, transfer-printed wares became increasingly fashionable by the end of the 18th century. Among the rare and unusual items are six transfer-printed enamel on copper ‘cloak pins,’ decorated with profile portraits of General George Washington, General Lafayette (Marquis de La Fayette), and Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry. As revolutionary and political icons, Lafayette and Washington were extremely popular in this period, and Perry, the ‘Hero of the Battle of Lake Erie’ played a pivotal role in one of the most significant battles of the War of 1812. He was one of America’s first and most enduring naval heroes, and a popular subject for export pieces. Enameling did not originate in England, but rather in 15th century France, and for centuries, enameled items were hand-decorated. The most common transfer-printed forms to survive are small boxes originally used for snuff or beauty marks, bonbonniers for tiny sweets, or needlework cases. Larger examples – such as candlesticks, plaques and larger boxes – were also made. Each of the six cloak pins (the period term) has a circular enameled face, enclosed by a
Selection of platters with Philadelphia views ‘Fair Mount near Philadelphia’ and ‘Upper Ferry Bridge over River Schuylkill,’ Joseph Stubbs, Burlslem (1790-1851) and ‘Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Hospital,’ J & W. Ridgway, Hanley (1814-1838) Estimates range from $800-1,200 (£500-750) to $1,500-2,500 (£940-1,560)
AMERICAN FURNITURE, FOLK & DECORATIVE ARTS November 13, 2013 THE PENNSYLVANIA SALE November 14, 2013 Philadelphia Lynda Cain +1 267.414.1237 lcain@freemansauction.com
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Whitney Bounty +1 267.414.1254 wbounty@freemansauction.com
Philadelphia