This 17th century Metropolitan slipware chamber pot features slip-trailed inscription which reads; “Remember thy creator in the days of thy youth that the lord may prosper”.
Metropolitan slipware vessels were made at Harlow in Essex, primarily for the London market, and arrived in the city in large quantities during the 17th century. The vessels were adorned with slip-trailed designs, with some also featuring inscriptions. Both secular and religious slogans were frequently observed, with the latter, like this example, appearing across the 17th century. However, during the Commonwealth period, vessels exclusively displayed religious slogans.
Both the chamber pot and the Bartmann jugs below were recovered from the same location, a cellar which was backfilled sometime during the second half of the 17th century. The significant number of pottery sherds originating from a relatively small number of vessels, coupled with the level of completeness observed, indicates that the pottery, particularly from the upper fills, was probably deposited in a single event, possibly as part of a clearance episode. The presence of imported pottery and the prevalence of high-quality Essex redwares over local examples hint at a certain social status, which is also reflected in the glass from the same context, such as the Façon de Venice glass bird feeder. The abundance of jug fragments is also noteworthy, suggesting that drinking played a central role in the activities carried out at the property or establishment from which the pottery originated, with the nearby Ironmongers Hall being a probable source.
The two 17th century Frechen stoneware Bartmann jugs (below) were made in Frechen, 10km to the south-west of Cologne in Germany. Jugs of this type with their characteristic face mask and heraldic medallions were imported into Britain in large quantities during the late 16th and 17th century and were used for the serving of wine or ale. The bearded face mask or ‘Bartmaske’ is thought to originate from the popular tradition of the Wild Man (or Green Man), a mythic creature who features prominently in northern European folklore. They were nicknamed as Bellarmines by contemporary Dutch stoneware dealers and English consumers. Popular tradition attributes the name Bellarmine to Cardinal Roberto Bellarmino (1542-1621), who was strongly opposed to Protestantism in the Low Countries and northern Germany. At total of 38 jugs of this type were recovered from the same deposit.
