Mug, creamware with black print of a verse within an oval cartouche.  The verse by the English poet John Dryden (1631-1700) reads,Beauty, like ice, our footing does betray;Who can tread sure on the smooth, slippery way:Pleased with the surface, we glide swiftly on,And see the dangers that we cannot shun.The cartouche bleeds off the top and bottom of the mug which suggests it was designed for a larger vessel.  At the bottom of the design is the inscription J. Poulton Sculpt. Nothing is known of this engraver.  The name Poulton occurs rarely in North Staffordshire records and there is no evidence to relate the name to any aspect of the pottery industry in that area.

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