18th Century Prattware Mug Duke of York Marie Antoinette Louis XVI Dauphin of France AF C 1795

This rare and decorative prattware mug is known as The Royal Sufferers and was made here in England during the 18th century, circa 1795. The commemorative double sided mug features a profile depicting the Duke of York to one side, and the ill-fated French Royal Family to the other.

Please see a similar mug on page 123 of the fantastic book Prattware English and Scottish relief decorated and underglaze coloured Earthenware 1780-1840 by John and Giselda Lewis.

Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany (b 1763 – d 1827) was the second son of George III, King of the United Kingdom and Hanover, and his consort Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. A soldier by profession, from 1764 to 1803 he was Prince-Bishop of Osnabrück in the Holy Roman Empire. From the death of his father in 1820 until his own death in 1827, he was the heir presumptive to his elder brother, George IV, in both the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and the Kingdom of Hanover. He commanded the British forces during the early stages of the French Revolutionary Wars.

The opposite side of the jug features The Royal Sufferers - Louis XVI (b 1754 – d 1793) and his wife, Marie Antoinette b 1755 – d 1793), who were the last king and queen of France before the fall of the monarchy during the French Revolution. On the 21st of January 1793, Louis XVI was beheaded by guillotine. On the 16th of October Marie Antoinette was executed by beheading by guillotine.

The portrait also features Louis Joseph Xavier François (b 1781 – d 1789) who was Dauphin of France as the second child and first son of King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. As son of a king of France, he was a fils de France ("Child of France"). Louis Joseph died aged seven from tuberculosis and was succeeded as Dauphin (and thus heir-apparent) by his four-year-old brother Louis Charles.

The mug has been extensively hand decorated and displays excellently. This is the perfect item for anyone who has a passion for history, anyone who collects rare and early ceramics.

Please see our collection of 18th and 19th century pottery listed separately in our store.

Measuring: Width including handle 4 5/8 inch (12 cm) by height 4 inch (9.5 cm).

Condition: Good display item but is has had professional restoration. The area around the handle has been restored. So too Louis's sash. Minor vertical hairline to one face of the mug between the two portraits and between the handle terminals, as can be seen in the images. The occasional minor shallow chip/surface graze commensurate with age.

Item ID:16639