A large Pratt ware plaque of Toby Fillpot c.1790

A large Pratt ware plaque of Toby Fillpot c.1790, moulded in high relief with a depiction of the famous toper seated with his pipe and jug of ale, inspired by Robert Dighton's print of 1761, unusually painted with a beard, within further moulds of putti and other figures, a painted husk border, a few small rim chips, 25.2cm.

Illustrated: J & G Lewis, Pratt Ware, p.191. The book raises the theory that such plaques were used as trial runs for moulds to be used as applications on later jugs and other vessels, based on the apparently random and unassociated smaller designs.

Provenance: the Leonard Russell Collection.