A rare Liverpool-printed creamware Bidston Hill jug, circa 1789
Of ovoid shape with a plain strap handle, printed in black with 'An East View of Liverpool Light House & Signals, on Bidston Hill, 1789', the tower surrounded by 47 numbered flags, above a list with the names of the corresponding ship owners, the reverse with a three-masted ship in full sail, 19cm high
Footnotes:
The lighthouse at Bidston Hill, one of the highest points on the Wirral, guided ships into the Mersey and the signals alerted those at the docks to which particular merchant's ship was approaching. Slight variations of this print dated 1788 and 1789 were exhibited by the Northern Ceramics Society, Made in Liverpool (1993), pp.120-1, nos.181 and 183. The 1788 example lists 44 flag combinations and the 1789 example 51 combinations. The present example which lists 47, presumably dates from the months in between. A mug in the Harris Museum and Art Gallery is also dated 1789 and signed in the print 'Printed by Joseph Johnson Liverpool'.

There are approximately ten chips to the footrim, the largest of which is a shallow chip to the underside of the footrim approximately 3cm in length. Most of these are approximately 0.5cm in length. There are two tiny nicks to the tip of the spout. The prints remain well with just some typical light scratches to the enamel at points. There is some kiln sand adhering to the glaze at points, from manufacture and of no significance.