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An important and unrecorded dated Irish commemorative delft flower brick
An important and unrecorded Irish delft small rectangular flower brick, the four sides inscribed in blue 'County of Antrim 1767', the pierced top with a marbled manganese glaze, on four angular short feet, 4 7/8" wide x 1 7/8" high, circa 1767, no mark
Provenance; Irish Private Collection
This important and unrecorded flower brick commemorates The Octennial Act of 1767, passed by the Parliament of Ireland, limiting thr duration of any single parliament to eight years, and ending the previous system where a parliament could last for an entire reign. Following the passing of the act, an election was held in Antrim, with an agreement between the Antrim and Hertford families (powerful local landowners), to share county representation and manage election expenses.
The form of this flower brick is also uncommon - considerably shallower and smaller than the English delft flower bricks of this period
This recent discovery is an important addition to the known examples of dated Irish delftware
