This is an example of what is known in the trade as a 'nursery plate'. They were made in large numbers for a popular market, often quite crudely, and often carrying an improving message such as one of Franklin's proverbs. Not many have survived (children!) so they have a rarity value. The dealer in Woodstock from whom it was acquired is an expert on English 19th century pottery and had never seen this design. He thinks it was made in about 1835, probably in Staffordshire, but possibly in the North-East (Middlesbrough?).

The plate was made as a white blank, with the alphabet in relief around the rim. A transfer print was then added and hand-coloured in green, red and ochre (colours associated with 'Prattware'). The design is a copy of a wood engraving drawn by George Cruickshank for the 1828 edition of 'The Diverting History of John Gilpin'.

Cruickshank produced six illustrations for this edition, and these were also issued separately in buff wrappers. We have copies of both versions in the Museum.

The print on the plate is captioned 'John Gilpins Arival [sic] at Ware' and shows the moment when his runaway horse has arrived at its owner's house at Ware.

The owner is Gilpin's friend the Callender (a tradesman whose job was to smooth, trim and give a gloss to woollen cloth by use of a hot press). Gilpin had lost his hat and wig on the way, and the Callender has gone into his house and brought out spare ones of his own to lend to John:

Whence straight he came with hat and wig;
A wig that flowed behind,
A hat not much the worse for wear,
Each comely in its kind.

He held them up, and, in his turn,
Thus show'd his ready wit -
My head is twice as big as yours,
They therefore needs must fit.

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