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Lot 130

A rare Worcester butter cooler and cover, circa 1756-8

15 December 2020, 10:30 GMT
London, Knightsbridge

Sold for £4,845 inc. premium

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A rare Worcester butter cooler and cover, circa 1756-8

Of moulded oval shape imitating a slatted wooden dairy buttertub, pierced all over with small holes and set on four scroll feet, with hoops picked out in yellow and painted with colourful Meissen-style flowers, the cover with a naturalistic fruit finial, 14.1cm wide (2)

Footnotes

Provenance
Phelps Collection, Christie's sale, 1 October 1984, lot 8
Zorensky Collection, Bonhams sale, 16 March 2004, lot 24
Ralph Kenber Collection

Meissen Style Flowers

China shops in 18th century London were dominated by imports from China. A very limited amount of Meissen porcelain was available and anything painted with European flowers made a refreshing change from famille rose. Chelsea was able to borrow and copy Meissen painted with 'deutsche Blumen' and this proved hugely popular in England. Worcester saw their chance and copied the Chelsea copies of Meissen. Success was guaranteed.


For a similar example see John Sandon, Dictionary of Worcester Porcelain (1993), col. pl.99. The shape was first made in silver, while related objects are known in Chelsea, Derby, Japanese and Meissen porcelains as well as Dutch Delft. The pierced holes allowed condensation to drain off the butter, caused by the change in temperature when it was brought in from the dairy.

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