Sugar Bowl 1823 - 1839

This sugar bowl was made in England in the early 19th century by Joseph Stubbs, using transfer-printed earthenware. The blue and white imagery depicts the Pennsylvania Hospital, an institution founded in 1751 by Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Bond. The presence of this building on a mass-produced item gives us insight into the social and cultural values of the time. Hospitals were increasingly seen as symbols of civic pride and progress, reflecting a growing concern for public health and welfare. The choice of an American hospital for a British-made object also reveals the increasing interconnectedness of the transatlantic world and perhaps a bit of British interest in the nascent institutions of the United States. Understanding this image requires a broad knowledge of the history of medicine, the rise of philanthropic institutions, and the economic relationship between Britain and America. By researching these social and institutional contexts, we can better appreciate the significance of what may seem like a simple household object.