Toft Dish

An outstanding example of North Staffordshire slipware by Thomas Toft, c.1674. Adam and Eve can be seen in the centre of the dish standing either side of the Tree of Knowledge entwined with the Serpent. Various birds, fishes and animals surround them together with a guardian angel to Adam's right and a wyvern to the left of Eve. The border is decorated with fourteen male heads and a panel enclosing the name THOMAS TOFT and the date 1674.

Thomas Toft (d. 1689) was a Staffordshire Potter and maker of slipware renowned for using a decorative technique whereby designs were created by trailing different coloured slips over a white slip ground. Over 30 pieces exist that are inscribed with his name.

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