Pieces from the Murray of Polmaise dining service attributed to the Delftfield Pottery Co. The pieces are earthenware with a blue tin glaze and were manufactured in the third quarter of the 18th century.
Each piece in this service bears a crest showing a mermaid combing her hair and holding a mirror. While a coat of arms is unique to a specific family, crests were often used by more than one family, and the mermaid was a popular choice. It seems likely that this service was made for the Murray family of Polmaise near Stirling, but the Rutherford family of Edinburgh had the same crest and it has been suggested that the service belonged to them. Different pieces from this service are held in museums in the United Kingdom and the United States and also in private collections.
Reference: E.1981.108
Reproduced with the permission of Glasgow City Council, Glasgow Museums
Keywords:
ashets, crests, Delftfield Pottery Co, dining services, dinner services, earthenware, eating, mermaids, Murray of Polmaise service, plates, stands, tureens