‘Quaker Pegg’ Derby Botanical plate, ‘Balm Leaved Archangel’, c. 1796

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Rare Derby botanical plate painted by ‘Quaker’ Pegg, with large central life-size botanical specimen copied from Curtis’s Botanical Magazine (plate 172, pub. 1791), within a gilt foliage & line border, the rim in a vivid yellow.

Inscribed to the back in Pegg’s handwriting, in blue:

“Lamium Orvala / Balm-leaved Archangel, or Dead Nettle. ”

with blue Crown & Baton mark, ‘216’ beneath.

Circa 1796-1811

 

Condition: enamels show some minor wear, gilt the same; yellow has multiple sections of pinprick bubbles from the firing; gilt rim worn.  Still displays surprisingly well~

22.5cm

 

ref. Gardner Museum, Toronto, #G83.1.1128.1.2 etc. for parts of a service with the exact same border, body and mark (pattern 216); possibly all part of a single magnificent service with botanicals painted by Pegg, the finest artist at the factory at the time.

 

 

William Pegg, known as Pegg the Quaker for his personal beliefs, was born in 1775, the son of a gardener, and came to be regarded as one of the finest painters of flowers on porcelain of all time.

He came to Staffordshire – ‘The Potteries’ – aged 10, in 1788. He was apprenticed as a ‘china painter’ – and would have been tasked with the monotonous jobs like ground colours and gilding rims. He collected prints and learnt how to draw, concentrating on plants – hardly surprising considering his father’s profession.

He had heard John Wesley preach in 1786, and had joined the Quaker ‘Society of Friends’ who followed the thoughts of men like George Fox – “…Thou shalt not make any graven Image, or simulate any figure… male or female… winged fowl… creeping thing… fish… by the express command of God”. He took this to heart, and flowers became his focus.

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