Plate

China, Decoration after an engraving by W. Watts

Qing dynasty (1644-1912), Qianlong period (1736-1795), About 1785

Chinese export porcelain was very popular amongst the gentry in 18th century England. Orders for dinner services sent to China could take several years to manufacture and ship home. The Chinese were often provided designs to copy for the decoration of pieces. With this plate, the inspiration was a print from the book The Seats of the Nobility and Gentry in Great Britan and Wales. Cadland Park is in Hampshire and was the home of Robert Drummond when the print and plate were made.

See More of the Collection

Ewer of solid white jasper with black jasper dip and applied white jasper relief decoration, on square plinth decorated with white anthemion motifs, the round foot likewise with anthemion motifs, the stem with a band of beading and the lower body with lotus motifs, the main body with the applied figures of the nine Muses below a band of stylized anthemion motifs, above that a frieze of five small relief scenes in oval reserves, with beading around the neck, ruffled spout and snake handle.
Pipe bowl of dark blue jasper dip with white relief decoration that includes a grape vine around the upper edge and leafy vines and berries around the shank, the lower reservoir is a poor replacement (not Wedgwood), on the main body the relief image from the series Domestic Employment.
Tall coffeepot of white porcelain heavily decorated with gilding, on both sides in large reserves finely painted harbor scenes and similar painting around the highly domed cover, the cover with gilt ball finial and S-scroll handle.
On a rectangular base, the figure of Alexander von Humboldt (1769-1859), Prussian naturalist and explorer, standing in front of a large ribbed container for toothpicks.