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[October 2004]
Rare Derby Porter Mug Displayed in Manchester
A rare hand-painted Derby porter mug, intricately decorated with industrial scenes of two Manchester foundries, has recently been acquired by Manchester Art Gallery. This porcelain mug, made around 1820, is also adorned with a delicate neoclassical gilded design, typical of the time. It is extremely rare to find realistic images of industry on 19th century ceramics, making this a particularly significant addition to the Gallery's permanent collection. The mug was acquired from Bonhams auction house in London and has just gone on display.
The painted image shows details of the Soho Foundry based in Ancoats (an area in central Manchester important in the industrial revolution) and the Phoenix Foundry near the Shudehill area of the city. They focus on the harsh realities of working life among the fiery furnaces and belching chimneys found in industrialised cities at the time. Both foundries were once hotbeds of manufacturing industry, making machine parts essential in the development of Manchester's industrial revolution, and both have since been demolished.
www.cityartgalleries.org.uk
ENDS