Saucer Dish, Worcester, 1768-70
This represents Aesop"s Fable of "The Bear and the Bee Hives". Also known as "The Bear and the Honey" and "The Bear and the Bees". From Francis Barlow"s 'Aesop"s Fables with His Life', 1687, p.173, Fable 86: The Bear and the Bee Hives:
A Bee"s keene sting a Bear didse inrage,
That with the Hives a war he does ingage,
The numbers joyne, and on the foe do fall,
Who grieves, his private fewd prov"d nationall.
Morall: So petty tumults by the Root persu"d
Have often mighty common wealths subdu"d.
Mark: Underglaze blue fretted square.
Provenance: Lady Ludlow Collection (gift of the National Art Collections Fund)
Size: Diameter: 18.6 cm.