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Lot 334

An exceptional Worcester teabowl and saucer, circa 1752-53

18 May 2016, 10:30 BST
London, Knightsbridge

Sold for £25,000 inc. premium

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An exceptional Worcester teabowl and saucer, circa 1752-53

Of twelve-sided form with concave fluting, finely pencilled in black with a Chinese river landscape picked out in a bright palette of pale yellow, purple, blue, red and green, a figure walking across and island in the foreground, rockwork and a small hut on stilts behind him, a boat and island in the distance, a formal border of scrolls and flowerheads inside the rims, saucer 11.5cm diam (2)

Footnotes

This fluted form is probably the earliest shape of Worcester teabowl and saucer found with polychrome decoration. Although undoubtedly very beautiful, it must have proved impractical for use and more likely was intended purely for display as examples are only rarely found. Six patterns are recorded on this shape, mostly featuring crane-like birds. The decoration on this lot is closely related to that on two baluster vases, one in the British Museum illustrated by Aileen Dawson, The Art of Worcester Porcelain (2007), p.35 and the other exhibited by Simon Spero, Exhibition 2008, no.27. A teabowl of the same shape and pattern was sold in by Bonhams 10 December 2008, lot 96 and a saucer of the same form from the Liane Richards Collection on 13 April 2016, lot 137.

Additional information

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