May 27, 2020 Founders & Patriots
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/27/2020
A mid-18th century, English "delft" (tin-glazed earthenware) charger of 10 5/8 inch diameter x 1 3/4 inch depth, hand-molded and -painted in cobalt blue and white. It has a chinoiserie design featuring a mandarin within a garden, surrounded by floral and floriate motifs, with a scrolled border. This charger or large plate belonged to John Stimpson (1728-1776) of Charlestown in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. A baker by trade, he lived and worked at the corner of Main and Mead Streets, his bakery at the rear of his property "on the road over Bunker Hill." On the day before the battle of Bunker or Breed's Hill, Stimson evacuated his extensive family and some of his possessions by ox cart to Medford. His home and bakery were destroyed when the British burned Charlestown at the beginning of the action, for which he later filed a claim of losses amounting to 334 pounds and 8 shillings. This charger was later recovered from his property following the battle, as noted on the label placed on the recto. Family tradition states that John Stimson baked bread for the Continental Army and died of camp fever on March 13, 1776 at Medford, where he was buried. CONDITION: overall very good, with some wear and chipping to the edge of the rim as typical for tinned-glazed ceramics of these age; some waterstaining to the label on recto. JLK