Unknown English
The Bare Knuckle Fighters

Public Domain

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Maker Unknown English

CultureEnglish

Titles

The Bare Knuckle Fighters

Datec.1811–1815

Made inEngland

MediumLead-glazed earthenware with polychrome decoration

Dimensions.1: 8 3/8 x 3 3/4 x 4 5/8 in. (21.3 x 9.5 x 11.7 cm)
.2: 8 1/4 × 3 3/4 × 4 5/8 in. (21 × 9.5 × 11.7 cm)

Credit LineThe Bayou Bend Collection, museum purchase funded by Alan Blackburn, William R. Camp, Jr., Alfred Deaton, Frank J. Hevrdejs, Ralph Thomas and J. Virgil Waggoner in honor of William J. Hill at "One Great Night in November, 1995"

Object numberB.95.15.1,.2

Current Location

Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens

Ceramics Study Room

On view

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Department

Bayou Bend

Object Type

CERAMICS

DescriptionTom Molineaux was born enslaved in Virginia. He became a skilled boxer, and after a particularly successful fight, he won a large sum for his enslaver and received his freedom. He travelled to England in 1809, hoping for winnings as a prizefighter. He is most remembered for his matches in 1810 and 1811 against English champion Tom Cribb, who was the English bare-knuckle boxing champion from 1809 to 1822.
Provenance[Phillip Suval, Inc., Fredericksburg, Virginia], a dealer exhibiting at The Theta Charity Antiques Show, Houston; purchased by MFAH, 1995.
Exhibition History"A Present from the Staffordshire Potteries," Theta Charity Antiques Show of Houston, George R. Brown Convention Center, September 23–26, 2004.

"Exhibited As We Are”: Fighting Racism with Art in the Age of Slavery,” The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Bayou Bend, April 29–August 16, 2015.

Cataloguing data may change with further research.

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