Skip to main content

Porridge plate with 'Joy germ': David 1937

Artwork Porridge plate with 'Joy germ': David this artwork made of Earthenware, modelled lip applied with a blue rabbit and a figure of an imp. Olive green glaze, created in 1937-01-01
Accession No.
2017.107
Date Created
1937
Gallery location
On display in QAG Gallery 17
Department
Australian Art
Dimensions A
12 x 20 x 15cm
Media Category
Ceramic
Secondary Media Category
earthenware
Medium
Earthenware, modelled lip applied with a blue rabbit and a figure of an imp. Olive green glaze
Place Created
Brisbane
Credit Line
Gift of the Reverends David and Bruce Noble in memory of their mother Elsie Harvey Noble through the Queensland Art Gallery Foundation 2008

This porridge bowl, made especially for David Noble, features a ‘joy germ’ — a tiny mythical good-luck figure that spread joy and laughter, popularised during the 1918–20 flu epidemic. David’s twin brother, Bruce, had a matching porridge bowl.

Other QAGOMA resources

COLLECTION FOCUS: ‘Small Figures’

Citations

Copy citation

Re-use metadata

Catalogue data as JSON

Share

Exhibitions featuring this object

A ceramic sculpture of a headless, armless figure on a green sofa. Liu Jianhua / China b.1962 / Obsessive memories (detail) 2000 / Porcelain, modelled and with overglaze colours, incised / Purchased 2004. Queensland Art Gallery Foundation / © Jianhua Liu

‘Small Figures’

Sep 2023 - Aug 2025

Other works in this medium

Artwork Fluted vase this artwork made of Earthenware, slip-cast, flaring fluted shape with moonstone glaze, created in 1940-01-01

Fluted vase c.1940-50
Artwork Six mugs this artwork made of Stoneware, thrown with carved fluted decoration and salt glazed, created in 1981-01-01

Six mugs 1981
Artwork Lugged bottle this artwork made of Stoneware, wheelthrown with granulated feldspar, combed marks with stone explosions and natural ash glaze

Lugged bottle c.1981

Reproduction requests

Images of artworks on this website may be used for research, study and other related exceptions as defined by section 40 of the Copyright Act 1968 (as amended) without applying for specific permission. All other uses of the content of this site (where applicable).  Refer these requests to reproductions. For more information, see copyright and reproductions on the QAGOMA website.