Of globular form, with original underglaze blue decoration of a tall
pine tree and flowering branches,
decorated in London c1720-30 with iron red, black and gilt :
the flowering branches overlaid with an elaborate gilt panel
outlining and heightening the flowers,
at the top, a smiling sun to each side (indicative of London
painting*),
sided by two standing Chinese figures, one on a low bridge, swans
swimming beneath;
the reverse with a half-rolled iron red blind over the pine tree
above two triangles -
one representing a further bridge with swans, the other a garden
terrace;
the spout and handle painted with cloud scrolls; the lid painted en
suite,
the interior faintly inscribed in gilt 'Cheap';
the verso with a pseudo artemesia leaf mark in underglaze blue
Illustrated :
European Decoration on Oriental
Porcelain, Helen Espir, p.
271, Pl. 16;
English Ceramics Circle,
Transaction, Vol.19, Part I;
The English Decoration of Oriental
Porcelain, Errol Manners, p.
18, Pl. 41
*Cf. Stephen Hanscombe, The Early
James Giles and his Contemporary London Decorators, p. 31,
where he cites the 'smiley-faced' sun
as a hallmark of early English decoration.
Provenance: Helen Espir Collection, no. 372. Purchased from
Geoffrey Waters, November 1994,
verso bearing both labels.
Condition : Excellent; enamels in very good condition; two
minor slice chips beneath lid; minor nick to lid verso
4.75” High x 6.5” Wide (spout to handle)