Updated November 10: This has been sold.
This small Creamware pitcher has the bust-length portrait of George Washington in an oval border, with the text "Washington" above and "His Countrys Father" on one side, Ben Franklin in his fur cap with the text "Ben J. Franklin L.L.D. F.R.S." on top and "Born at Boston, New England, 17 Jan 1706" on the bottom, and an American Eagle with Shield under the spout with the text: "Republicans are not Always Ungrateful"
Made by Richard Hall & Son from Staffordshire, England
Size: 5.5" High x 5.5" Deep x 4" Wide
Shipping: $30. Please allow two weeks for shipping.
About the motto
Around the Great Seal on the side of the bowl is the motto "Republicans are not always ungrateful," which suggests that this item is one of many produced around the time of Lafayette's tour of the States in 1824, when he was welcomed as the last surviving general of the War of Independence.
The motto is derived from the welcome speech given by the Mayor of New York, in which the "unjust imputation" that republics are "ungrateful to their benefactors" was publicly refuted (Knapp 1825, 445).
About the initial F.R.S.
Fellowship of the Royal Society (FRS, ForMemRS and HonFRS) is an award granted by the Fellows of the Royal Society of London to individuals who have made a "substantial contribution to the improvement of natural knowledge, including mathematics, engineering science, and medical science".
Fellowship of the Society the oldest known scientific academy in continuous existence is a significant honour.
Benjamin Franklin, who received an honorary doctorate from the University of St. Andrews in 1759 and the University of Oxford in 1762 for his scientific accomplishments, and thereafter referred to himself as "Doctor Franklin."
Source: Archives.gov
Oxford University: Record of Degree of Doctor of Civil Law 30 April 1762 Oxford University:Record of Degree of Doctor of Civil Lawms Register of Convocation University Archives: Oxford UniversityThe "Heads of Houses" at Oxford University had voted Feb. 22 1762 to confer on Franklin the honorary degree of Doctor of Civil Law "whenever He shall please to visit the University."