The Merry Wives of Windsor
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
ca.1964
"The Merry Wives of Windsor" is a square ceramic tile produced around 1964, measuring 15.3 cm in height and 15.3 cm in width. The tile body was manufactured by Hereford Tiles Ltd. in Hereford, while the decoration was applied by Florian Studios in Saxmundham, Suffolk.
The tile is decorated using a transfer-printed design that was painted underglaze in shades of blue, magenta, yellow, green, and brown before firing. The scene depicts the character Falstaff and his companions gathered around a tavern table, accompanied by Mrs. Quickly holding a tankard in her right hand. The inscription "The Merry Wives of Windsor" is lettered in the upper right corner on the front. The reverse of the tile includes raised lettering that reads "TILE BODY MADE BY HEREFORD TILES LTD. FOR FLORIAN STUDIOS SAXMUNDHAM SUFFOLK", along with the stamped or marked characters "17 / T8" in the centre. The reverse also bears a Russian postage stamp inscribed "Shakespeare 400 celebrates 1964".
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Historical context
The tile was issued around 1964, likely as a souvenir commemorating the 400th anniversary of William Shakespeare's birth. This followed a tradition of ceramic tiles featuring theatrical imagery that originated in the late 18th century alongside the adoption of transfer-printing on ceramics. Although titled after The Merry Wives of Windsor, the imagery appears to represent a scene from the Henry IV plays set in the Boar's Head tavern in Eastcheap.
Physical characteristics
- Material
- Transfer printed ceramic, painted underglaze
- Dimensions
- Height: 15.3 cm; Width: 15.3 cm
Technical characteristics
- Inscriptions
- Date: Text: Research required; Latest: Research required; Earliest: Research required; Note: Written in the top right hand corner, on the front.; Type: Research required; Medium: Research required; Method: Research required; Script: Research required; Content: 'The Merry Wives of Windsor'; Language: Research required; Position: Research required; Inscriber: Name: Id: Research required; Text: Research required; Association: Id: Research required; Text: Research required; Description: Research required; Translation: Research required; Interpretation: Research required; Transliteration: Research required Date: Text: Research required; Latest: Research required; Earliest: Research required; Note: Verso; Type: Research required; Medium: Research required; Method: Research required; Script: Research required; Content: Russian postage stamp Shakespeare 400 celebrates 1964; Language: Research required; Position: Research required; Inscriber: Name: Id: Research required; Text: Research required; Association: Id: Research required; Text: Research required; Description: Research required; Translation: Research required; Interpretation: Research required; Transliteration: Research required Date: Text: Research required; Latest: Research required; Earliest: Research required; Note: Verso in raised letters; Type: Research required; Medium: Research required; Method: Research required; Script: Research required; Content: 'TILE BODY MADE BY HEREFORD TILES LTD. FOR FLORIAN STUDIOS SAXMUNDHAM SUFFOLK'; Language: Research required; Position: Research required; Inscriber: Name: Id: Research required; Text: Research required; Association: Id: Research required; Text: Research required; Description: Research required; Translation: Research required; Interpretation: Research required; Transliteration: Research required Date: Text: Research required; Latest: Research required; Earliest: Research required; Note: Verso, in centre; Type: Research required; Medium: Research required; Method: Research required; Script: Research required; Content: 17 T8; Language: Research required; Position: Research required; Inscriber: Name: Id: Research required; Text: Research required; Association: Id: Research required; Text: Research required; Description: Research required; Translation: Research required; Interpretation: Research required; Transliteration: Research required
- Maker recorded
- Hereford Tiles; Florian Studios
- Place recorded
- Hereford, Saxmundham
Identification
- Source note
- Transcribed from the Victoria and Albert Museum collection record for this single object; how far it represents a wider collectible type has not been independently verified.
- Museum object name
- The Merry Wives of Windsor
- Museum object number
- S.317-1981
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.