Miniature milk churn, with Glasgow coat of arms

This porcelain miniature milk churn is decorated with the Glasgow coat of arms. It was made for the souvenir market by the Nautilus Porcelain Company at the Possil Pottery in Glasgow and dates from between around 1900 and 1910.

All the items represented in the arms of Glasgow are associated with the life of St Kentigern or St Mungo, the patron saint of Glasgow. The oak tree is said to represent one of the forest trees on the banks of the Molendinar burn where St Kentigern built his church. The hand bell to the right of the tree is said to have been brought from Rome by St Kentigern and was used to call followers to his church.

The robin redbreast on top of the tree alludes to an incident in St Kentigern's childhood when he brought a dead robin back to life by praying. The fish and the ring may allude to the tale of the unfaithful wife of King Roderick of Strathclyde, Queen Langueth. A precious ring given to her by the King was eventually found, with the help of St Kentigern, inside a salmon fished out of the River Clyde.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-180-001-965-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland Part 2
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  H.1994.793
• Date: Between around 1900 and 1910
  
• Material: Porcelain. Inscription: [Glasgow arms]; mark: Nautilus M 14 Porcelain
  Milk churn, miniature / souvenir
  
• Dimensions: 75 mm H x 40 mm base D
  
• What: Milk churn, miniature / souvenir
  
• Subject:
• Who: Nautilus Porcelain Company, Possil Park, Glasgow (Maker)
  
• Where: Scotland, Lanarkshire, Glasgow
  Scotland, Lanarkshire, Glasgow, Possil Park
  
• Event:
• Description: Porcelain milk churn with the coat of arms of Glasgow, made by the Nautilus Porcelain Company, Possil Park, Glasgow
  
• References:
  • Evans, G. Souvenirs From Roman Times to the Present Day. Edinburgh: NMS Publishing Ltd, 1999, pp 52-5. 
  • Porteous, A. The Town Council Seals of Scotland Historical, Legendary and Heraldic. Edinburgh and London: W & A K Johnston, MCMVI, p 132. 
• Translations:
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