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Source Description
In this depiction of Britannia, the figure is surrounded by symbols of England’s power and military might. On one side, she and a lion, another symbol of Britain, support a shield adorned with the Union flag. Below it lay motifs associated with war such as armor, a trumpet, and a flag. On her left, Britannia presents a medallion to the viewer as she rests her feet on a globe, a symbol of the nation’s territorial aspirations. The portrait may depict the reigning king, George II (1683–1760), or Prince Frederick Louis (1707–1751), his recently deceased heir.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
97996
label
Figure of Britannia
core
obj
dtoType
object
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
97996
contentType
object
title
Figure of Britannia
description
In this depiction of Britannia, the figure is surrounded by symbols of England’s power and military might. On one side, she and a lion, another symbol of Britain, support a shield adorned with the Union flag. Below it lay motifs associated with war such as armor, a trumpet, and a flag. On her left, Britannia presents a medallion to the viewer as she rests her feet on a globe, a symbol of the nation’s territorial aspirations. The portrait may depict the reigning king, George II (1683–1760), or Prince Frederick Louis (1707–1751), his recently deceased heir.
date
c. 1756
rights
CC0
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
wikidata
Q60747145
creators
57145
343599
genreSpecific
Ceramic
imageCount
1
source
import
dimensionsRaw
Overall: 28 x 24.5 x 13.7 cm (11 x 9 5/8 x 5 3/8 in.)
cul
England, Staffordshire
accession
1917.626
Source extras
tec
soft-paste porcelain
tombstone
Figure of Britannia, c. 1756. Made by Longton Hall Porcelain Factory (British, Staffordshire, 1749–60), decorated by Vauxhall Porcelain Factory (British, 1751–1764). Soft-paste porcelain; overall: 28 x 24.5 x 13.7 cm (11 x 9 5/8 x 5 3/8 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Bequest of Mary Warden Harkness, 1917.626
collection
Decorative Arts
didYouKnow
The creation of this triumphant personification of the nation was likely spurred on by Great Britain’s conflict with France in the Seven Years’ War (1756–63).
citations
citation
"Bequest of Mrs. Charles W. Harkness." <em>The Bulletin of the Cleveland Museum of Art</em> 4, no. 4 (1917): 63.
page_number
Mentioned: p. 63
citation
The Cleveland Museum of Art. <em>Handbook of the Cleveland Museum of Art</em>. Cleveland: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1925.
page_number
Mentioned & reproduced: p.11
citation
The Cleveland Museum of Art. <em>Handbook of the Cleveland Museum of Art</em>. Cleveland: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1928.
page_number
Reproduced: p. 10
citation
Milliken, William Mathewson. "European Porcelains Bequeathed by Mary Warden Harkness." <em>The Bulletin of the Cleveland Museum of Art </em>15, no. 2 (February 1928): 57-59.
page_number
Mentioned & reproduced: pp. 58-9
url
www.jstor.org/stable/25137108
creditline
Bequest of Mary Warden Harkness
updatedAt
2026-05-29 05:17:28.044000
sourceId
97996
dept
Decorative Art and Design
coll
Decorative Arts
med
soft-paste porcelain
creatorTags
gender unknown
thumbnail_url
image_url
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
photo
mediaId
9fc6ff846b2be924