【Wedgwood and Sakespeare】 Decrypt the Verses on Wedgwood Majolica Jug / c.1869《WareWish》

June 07, 2024

Wedgwood and Sakespeare

Decrypt the Verses / Wedgwood Majolica Jug

《Warewish Decryption》

Wedgwood Majolica Jug 01 (WareWish)

<Decrypt the hand-drawn Verses on "Wedgwood Majolica Jug (c.1869)">

When you see the special jug in the photo, you will notice four sentences on the jug. What do these four sentences mean? The four sentences are as follows:

1. WHAT THO MY GATES BE POOR

2. TAKE THEM IN GOOD PART

3. BETTER CHEER MAY YOU HAVE

4. BUT NOT WITH BETTER HEART

Warewish consulted a lot of Wedgwood information. After asking many Wedgwood experts, no one can decipher the origin and meaning of the four verses on the jug! Under such a situation, it is certainly worthy of in-depth research and solution. Warewish had no choice but to do his own research and consult a lot of information about Wedgwood. If you try hard, you're bound succeed eventually. Warewish has finally solved this secret! Today I will answer this secret in this "Warewish Blog".

<解密"Wedgwood Majolica Jug (c.1869)"上面手繪的詩句>

看到照片特殊的水壺，你會注意壺身上有四句話?這四句話有何意義?這四句話如下:

1. WHAT THO MY GATES BE POOR

2. TAKE THEM IN GOOD PART

3. BETTER CHEER MAY YOU HAVE

4. BUT NOT WITH BETTER HEART

Warewish查閱非常多Wedgwood的資料.詢問過很多Wedgwood專家，竟然沒有人能夠解密在壺上的四句詩句出處與意義! 這樣的情況下, 當然值得深入的研究與解謎。Warewish只好自己研究，查閱非常多Wedgwood的相關資料，經過來回的苦思，最後，皇天不負苦心人，Warewish終於解開這個秘密! 今天就在這個"Warewish部落格"解開秘密。

Wedgwood Majolica Jug 02 (WareWish)

Wedgwood Majolica Jug 03 (WareWish)

<Original work by Shakespeare>

First of all, Warewish finally discovered that the four sentences on this "Wedgwood Majolica Jug" come from a comedy originally written by Shakespeare: "The Comedy of Errors" Act 3, Scene 1. Warewish discovered that it was in fact two sentences rather than four, and that the key verses of the original work were as follows:

But though my cats be mean, take them in good part;

Better cheer may you have, but not with better heart.

<The meaning of these two sentences in this play>

Even if my food is simple, please accept it with pleasure; You may have a more sumptuous banquet, but you will not have a more sincere heart.

<莎士比亞原著>
首先，Warewish終於發現此款"Wedgwood Majolica Jug"上面的四句話，出自莎士比亞原著的一齣喜劇: "The Comedy of Errors" Act 3, Scene 1("錯中錯"第三幕第一場)。Warewish發現，事實上這是兩句話而不是四句話，原著的關鍵詩句如下:

But though my cates be mean, take them in good part;

Better cheer may you have, but not with better heart.

<這兩句話在此劇中的意思>

即使我的食物很簡單，請你們也能欣然接受；
你們或許會有更豐盛的宴席，但不會有更真誠的心意。

Wedgwood Majolica Jug 04 (WareWish)

Wedgwood Majolica Jug 05 (WareWish)

<The first verse on this pot is actually different from Shakespeare's original verse>

Strangely, when Wedgwood's predecessors designed the Wedgwood Majolica Jug in 1869, they hand-painted two sentences from Shakespeare's comedy on the jug, but changed "But though my cates be mean" to "What tho my gates be poor", is this an accidental misspelling? Of course not. Now Warewish answers the first verse of this pot, and the reason for its rewriting is:

1. Adaptive adaptation: Wedgwood may have adapted the lines to make them more in line with the language habits and understanding of the time (19th century). For example, "gates" is easier to understand than "cates", and "poor" is more direct than "mean".

2. Freedom of artistic creation: Wedgwood may choose to slightly modify Shakespeare's lines for creative reasons to create a new interpretation or unique artistic effect.

3. Design needs: The design of ceramic handicrafts may require the text to be adjusted to fit the space and aesthetic needs of the jug.

<此壺上的第一詩句，竟然不同於莎士比亞原著的詩句>

奇怪的是，在1869年，Wedgwood的前輩設計此款Wedgwood Majolica Jug的時候，在壺身上手繪出莎士比亞喜劇的兩句話，但是，卻把"But though my cates be mean"改為"What tho my gates be poor"，這是不小心的誤寫嗎? 當然不是。現在Warewish解答此壺的第一詩句，其改寫的理由是:

1. 適應性改編：Wedgwood可能為了使臺詞更符合當時(19世紀)的語言習慣和理解，進行了改編。因為，"gates"比"cates"更容易理解，"poor"也比"mean"更直接。

2. 藝術創作自由：Wedgwood可能出於創意考慮，選擇對莎士比亞的臺詞進行稍微的修改，以創造一種新的詮釋或獨特的藝術效果。

3. 設計需要：陶瓷工藝品的設計可能需要對文字進行調整，以適應壺身的空間和美學需求。

Wedgwood Majolica Jug 06 (WareWish)

Wedgwood Majolica Jug 07 (WareWish)

<Introduction to Wedgwood Majolica>

Wedgwood Majolica has been produced since 1860. It consists of applying colored glazes to a pottery body with relief decoration. Included in this type of vessel are some very large items that are over 50 inches tall, including vases, vases, umbrella stands, wall mounts, candle holders, and dessert plates. Production of the Wedgwood Majolica ceased in 1910. However, in recent years, due to the Wedgwood Majolica's gorgeous appearance and special taste, collectors have begun to appreciate its quality and understand its importance as an expression of Victorian taste.

<Wedgwood Majolica簡介>

Wedgwood Majolica從1860年開始生產。由在帶有浮雕裝飾的陶器坯體上塗上彩色釉料組成。在這種類型的器皿中，包括一些高度超過50英寸的非常大的物品，包括花瓶、花瓶、雨傘架、壁掛支架、燭台和甜點盤。Wedgwood Majolica的於1910年停止生產。然而，近幾年來，由於Wedgwood Majolica絢麗的外觀與特殊的品味，收藏家開始欣賞它的品質，並了解它作為維多利亞時代品味表達的重要性。

Wedgwood Majolica Jug 08 (WareWish)

Wedgwood Majolica Jug 09 (WareWish)

<The size of Wedgwood Majolica Jug>

Jug height (including lid): 24.3 cm.
Bottom diameter: 10.3 cm.

<Wedgwood Majolica Jug尺寸>

壺高(含蓋): 24.3 cm.
壺底直徑: 10.3 cm.

Wedgwood Majolica Jug 10 (WareWish)

Wedgwood Majolica Jug 11 (WareWish)

Wedgwood Majolica Jug 12 (WareWish)

Wedgwood Majolica Jug 13 (WareWish)

Wedgwood Majolica Jug 14 (WareWish)

[Photos] Warewish took the photos at home in Taiwan, Warewish Collection, June 6, 2024.

[照片拍攝] Warewish拍攝於台灣自家，Warewish收藏，2024年6月6日。

WareWish/20240607

WareWish