Ricky Pound
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whitegoldsword1708.bsky.social
Ricky Pound
@whitegoldsword1708.bsky.social
Interested in Jacobites and the 17th and 18th centuries- art, architecture, material culture, symbolism, JMW Turner, John Soane and ceramics. Historic House Manager.
Behind door number 7 of my advent calendar, we have this #Yongzheng saucer, c. 1730, showing a dragon chasing the fiery pearl. On the base are concentric circles containing scholars objects. Similar patterns were copied by English manufacturers such as Worcester. www.vam.ac.uk/blog/blue-an...
December 7, 2025 at 10:34 AM
Behind door number six of my Christmas ceramics calendar we have this #Meissen saucer decorated in the Imari style. On the base triple iron red concentric circles derived from Asian examples. Blue crossed swords with number 5 between the blades. Circa 1735.
December 6, 2025 at 10:10 PM
Day 2 of the JMW Turner symposium at Tate. Very interesting! @tate.bsky.social
December 5, 2025 at 11:16 AM
Day 2 of the JMW Turner symposium at Tate Britain followed by a volunteers drink reception at Sir John Soane’s museum this evening. Turner & Soane- a match made in heaven (or at least somewhere near…)
December 5, 2025 at 8:36 AM
Behind door number five of my Christmas advent calendar are these three lovely Meissen cups, all of which date circa 1735 and 1740. They all have either landscape or harbour scenes within a quatrefoil cartouche and set against a yellow ground. Gilder’s number and crossed swords to the base.
December 5, 2025 at 6:49 AM
Another series of excellent talks at today’s JMW Turner symposium at Tate Britain. Curator Andrew Loukes to finish day number 1. @Tate
December 4, 2025 at 5:02 PM
I’m looking forward to the two day symposium on JMW Turner which takes place today at Tate Britain. If you’re going, please come and say “hello”
December 4, 2025 at 6:51 AM
Behind door number 4 of my Christmas Callander is this lovely 18th century nephrite jade dog with natural russet inclusions. The dog sits in a natural position, its body slightly turned to the right.
December 4, 2025 at 6:48 AM
Just putting it back out there…..
Masonic Symbolism in the Blue Velvet Room at Chiswick House’.
First published in ‘The Square’, 2018 #Freemasonry #Masonic #MasonicSymbolism #EighteenthCentury
December 3, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Reposted by Ricky Pound
There is still time to book a ticket for tomorrow evenings (04/11/25) online talk, the last in the present series. Ed Harris will be talking about the Twining Tea Dynasty and social housing in and around Twickenham. Book here-

londonluminaries.com/talk/tea-and...
December 3, 2025 at 7:35 AM
Behind door number 3 on my Christmas advent colander is ‘Bugs the word!’! A #Meissen saucer and cup with scattered, shadowed insects after Johann Gottfried Klinger, with flowers and buds. Circa 1740-50.
December 3, 2025 at 7:02 AM
Behind door number two of my ceramics Christmas calendar is this beautiful #Meissen saucer, painted with a scene of a ling cat and cubs. The outside with decorated with purple scale. This type of decoration was introduced into Meissen during the Seven Years War (1756-63). Circa 1760.
December 2, 2025 at 7:28 AM
Behind door number one of my ceramics Christmas calendar is this lovely Blanc de Chine #Meissen teapot. Circa 1735.
December 2, 2025 at 7:00 AM
I can’t help but think that this depiction of a gentleman on a piece of early 18th Meissen porcelain looks like a tv aerial. If not that then a garden rake. What do people think?
November 28, 2025 at 10:31 AM
Go and visit before Santa comes down the chimney! 🎁🎄🌲🧑‍🎄🤶
We will close for the Christmas holidays from Monday 22nd December to Thursday 1st January. We will reopen Friday 2nd January. Then each Friday (11-3pm), Saturday (11-3pm) & Sunday (2-4pm) throughout the year.
Until then come and visit us! All welcome and Free entry! :-)
November 28, 2025 at 9:54 AM
A very rare #Meissen pouring cup, this example decorated with #chinoiserie figures set within a quatrefoil cartouches with gilding to the base ring and inside edge of the cup. Yellow ground. Early crossed swords with blue concentric circle. Decorated interior of the cup.
November 27, 2025 at 9:04 AM
Ceramics currently on view at the Twickenham Museum. In the 18th century the building (which today houses the museum) was owned by the Twining family, giants in burgeoning tea trade. Includes #Kangxi period wares, #Meissen and #Wedgwood. @twickenhammuseum.bsky.social
November 25, 2025 at 8:27 AM
Reposted by Ricky Pound
2 tickets have become available for this Saturday’s Pope’s Grotto opening (Saturday 22nd November) between 10.00am & 12.30am. If you would like to visit this remarkable 18th century survival, tickets are £10 and can be purchased here-

www.ticketsource.co.uk/popesgrotto/...

A perfect Xmas treat!
www.ticketsource.co.uk
November 18, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Two tickets have become available for this Saturday’s Pope’s Grotto opening (Saturday 22nd November) between 10.00am and 12.30am. If you would like to visit this remarkable 18th century survival, tickets are £10 and can be purchased here-

www.ticketsource.co.uk/booking/sele...

A perfect treat!
November 18, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Reposted by Ricky Pound
Grotto visits are currently sold out for the remainder of this year, but new dates for the first part of 2026 have been scheduled. Tickets will be available online beginning January 1 and are expected to sell quickly.

www.ticketsource.co.uk/popesgrotto?...

Thank you to all our visitors of 2025!
November 17, 2025 at 11:08 AM
A fantastic 18th century grotto visited by the likes of Voltaire and Thomas Jefferson!
Grotto visits are currently sold out for the remainder of this year, but new dates for the first part of 2026 have been scheduled. Tickets will be available online beginning January 1 and are expected to sell quickly.

www.ticketsource.co.uk/popesgrotto?...

Thank you to all our visitors of 2025!
November 17, 2025 at 11:09 AM
I think the influence of Piranesi’s etching, “Dark Prison with a Courtyard for the Torture of Criminals …”, c1750 was a major influence for the arrangement of facing arches in Sir John Soane’s dome at his museum at number 13 Lincoln’s Inn Fields.
November 13, 2025 at 10:22 PM
sal.org.uk/event/hats-off/
This will be so much fun!

November 19 @ 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Past Matters: Hats off to Tradition – Tales from The Cocked Hat Club

Click on the link to reserve tickets
Past Matters: Hats off to Tradition - Tales from The Cocked Hat Club - Society of Antiquaries of London
Roll up! Roll up! Join us for a unique evening that lifts the lid on one of the most curious – and least known - aspects of the 'Old Lady', as the Society of Antiquaries is affectionately known.
sal.org.uk
November 13, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Really looking forward to David Olusago’s new series ‘Empire’ this evening and for the next three Fridays. A great historian, so unassuming and without an ounce of arrogance or pretentiousness. My kind of historian.
November 7, 2025 at 5:55 PM