Ice Pail, c.1796-1800

One of a pair of ice pails with intricate flower decoration by William Pegg (1775-1851). He was the son of a gardener and had worked in a pottery from the age of ten. By the age of thirteen he was already an accomplished self-taught flower painter on ceramics. Unlike some of his contemporaries, he always painted from life, never copying from botanical drawings, and kept numerous sketchbooks. The names of the flowers in English (not Latin) are inscribed on the reverse of the item: China Aster, Dwarf Double Poppy and Hyacinth, Eastern Poppy and Piquette Carnation. William Pegg is regarded as perhaps the finest British flower painter to have ever worked in china painting.

Image from: Derby Museum and Art Gallery