Three men with mallet, hammer, and chisel are breaking an enormous bowl which is already much damaged, cracked, and patched. The bowl is supported on its end by a block (left) on which stand two of the tinkers. On the ground (right) kneels lord north, working on the interior of the bowl with a hammer and chisel. On the ground beside him is a paper inscribed "ld north". Behind the bowl (left), and about to strike it with a large mallet, a man dressed as an artisan stands on a block; a paper in his pocket is inscribed "ld sandwich" and pasted on the wall behind his head is a "list of the navy". Next him, wielding a hammer and chisel, is a man dressed as a military officer; the "plan of minden" on the wall behind his head shows that he is lord george germain. Behind north, his hands raised in pleased surprise, stands george iii, wearing a feathered turban surmounted by a crown, probably intended to indicate that he is behaving like an oriental despot, see bmsat 5544-7. Over his shoulder looks bute in tartan, also smiling, his right hand raised, as if admonishing the king. Beneath the title is engraved:
"the national kettle, which once was a good one,
for boiling of mutton, of beef, & of pudding,
by the fault of the cook, was quite out of repair,
when the tinkers were sent for, - behold them & stare. The master he thinks, they are wonderful clever,
and cries out in raptures, 'tis done! now or never!
yet sneering the tinkers their old trade pursue,
in stopping of one hole - they're sure to make two. " 10 february 1780
etching with surface tone. Date: 1780. Dimensions: Height: 350 mm; Width: 247 mm. Medium: paper. Depicted People: George III, King of the United Kingdom. Collection: British Museum. The State Tinkers (BM 1868,0808.4650 1)
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