Genius Fan

I’m always looking for new ways to get that intimate sense of history, rather than just reading an account of something in a book. Well, if you go to Dr Johnson’s House museum in Gough Square, London, you’ll see in a locked display cabinet (I’m guessing it’s all locked up) a tankard that James Boswell once drank out of. How much time a man should stare at another man’s tankard is up for discussion. And how many photos a man should take of another man’s tankard, also is a matter for discussion. But when you spend time looking at..another man’s drinking vessel…you will find yourself transported back in time. It happened to me. It’s to do with the process of imagination over an object that one is so familiar with and how it’s used.

This tankard is from a set commissioned and used by James Boswell at home. Its display card tells us it’s made from Chinese porcelain and is from the Qianlong period (Emperor Qianlong, 1735–1796). The Boswell family crest is on its side, but I didn’t get a photo of the side showing the crest…hence it doesn’t appear in my sketch. I must admit though it looks more like a mug for tea or coffee…and not really like a container for ale. Also in display cases in the museum, just off Fleet Street, you can see Boswell’s China coffee cup, items made for Sir Joshua Reynolds and items from Hester Thrale’s tea set. I love this little museum and pop in whenever I can.