bowl
- Museum number
- Franks.51
- Description
-
Bowl; hard-paste porcelain; thrown; painted in iron-red enamel; round the outside four peasants in a landscape and a circular medallion with single tree and landscape background; rim gilt; no factory marks.
- Production date
- 1723 (circa, decoration)
- Dimensions
-
Diameter: 17.50 centimetres (max)
-
Height: 8 centimetres
- $Inscriptions
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- Curator's comments
- This body of this bowl is an example of 'Böttger' porcelain, which was the earliest white porcelain, produced at Meissen from 1709 to c. 1725. It is not "true" hard-paste porcelain because it uses only kaolin and alabaster and does not include china clay and quartz, the later replaced the alabaster.
The decoration was formerly attributed to a Hausmaler (independent decorator) in Augsburg, but is now thought to be the work of the painter Johann Gregorius Höroldt. The painting in iron-red (Eisenrot) is typical of early decorating. It may be part of a tea service also with peasant figures landscapes with clouds in the Arnhold Collection, New York (see Maureen Cassidy-Geiger, The Arnhold Collection of Meissen Porcelain, 1710-50, 2008, appendix I, fig. 24) The bowl may be a waste bowl for tea leaves.
A service consisting of teapots, teabowls and saucers, and a sugar box with similar decoration is in the possession of the Arnhold family, USA. The figure smoking on the BM piece is a Hanswurst. Information from Maureen Cassidy-Geiger, June 2003.
- Location
- Not on display
- Condition
- Gilding slightly rubbed; two small holes on inside of foot rim; chip off rim edge.
- Acquisition date
- 1897
- Department
- Britain, Europe and Prehistory
- Registration number
- Franks.51