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View: Left side
Mug
Made at: Worcester Manufactory (England)
English
about 1770–75
Object Place: Europe, England
Medium/Technique
Soft-paste porcelain with underglaze scale blue ground, decorated in polychrome enamels and gold
Dimensions
11.4 x 11.4 cm (4 1/2 x 4 1/2 in.)
Credit Line
Gift of Rita and Frits Markus
Accession Number1983.654
CollectionsEurope
DescriptionThe cylindrical mug was thrown on the wheel, then turned on the lathe for the purpose of finishing the outer surface and cutting back the central part of the base to form a foot ring. The applied, grooved strap handle was attached to form an ear-shaped loop. The scale blue ground and the mark were applied to the biscuit-fired piece and hardened on in the glost kiln before application of the glaze. The two large reserves, sometimes called mirror-shaped, are decorated with finely painted festoons of European or English (as opposed to oriental) flowers. The flowers are in a palette limited to purple, orange, and pink, some of the last with yellow centers. Shading is done with fine parallel brushstrokes and some stippling. The green leaves are shaded with purple. The painting of the bouquets, with a swirling movement, and he gilded framing of the reserves, with symmetrical scroll, shell, and bead motifs, undoubtedly reflect the influence of French porcelain. The gold shows traces of tooling but is deeper toned than that of Sèvres. The three smaller reserves opposite the handle are similarly framed. The two at the rim seem to continue the floral swag, the reserve below them has one spray with two pink bell-shaped flowers. The reserve on the handle, also framed in gold, has a Rower motif in puce monochrome. At the rim and at the foot are simple gold bands.
Marks
(1) on base, in underglaze blue: script W
ProvenanceNew York. 1955, Rita and Frits Markus; 1983, gift of Rita and Frits Markus to the MFA.