Casgliadau Arlein

Large bowl, white earthenware, wheel-thrown, with a blue inclusion to the glaze, which also contains specks of blue pigment, hemispherical with deep sides and standing on a substantial applied foot rim; the exterior with a thick and somewhat uneven underglaze blue ground, reserved with four large coats of arms 1. Sable, on a chief argent, three lions' heads, erased, ermines, langued gules, over a large gilt civic mace and a smaller silver mace (both part of the Swansea municipal regalia) crossed and sprays of laurel, a scroll below inscribed 'MAIOR VILLAE DE SWANSEA.', for John Richardson; 2.Gules, an embattled gateway argent, and from each tower a flagstaff and banner, azure, a lion rampant or amid crosses, upon an escutcheon or, in the centre chief point, a bird regardant proper, with wings displayed and inverted, holding its beak a fish, all within gilt palm fronts, a scroll below inscribed 'S. VILLAE DE SWANSEA.', for the town of Swansea; 3. as 1. above, the maces omitted, and within gilt palm fronds, and a scroll below bearing 'PRETIO PRUDENTIA PRAESTAT.'; 4.Gules, three chevrons argent, within gilt palm fronds, below a scroll bearing 'S. COM. GLAMORGANIAE'; the interior painted at the bottom with a large crest, on a mural crown or, a lion's head of the arms, with a blue circlet inscribed 'PRETIO PRUDENTIA PRAESTAT.', and with a ribbon scroll below the lip inscribed 'THIS BOWL WAS PRESENTED / TO HIS GRAND / SON - JNo RICHARDSON / BY JOHN RICHARDSON ESQr MAYOR / 1845 / AS A BIRTHDAY / GIFT'.