Lowestoft Porcelain Polychrome ‘Bird and Butterfly’ Pattern Tea Bowl c1780

Description

Heading : Lowestoft Porcelain Polychrome ‘Bird and Butterfly’ Pattern Tea Bowl
Date : 1775-1785
Period : George III
Marks : None
Origin : Lowestoft; England
Colour : Polychrome
Pattern : Bird and Butterfly

Features: Has the distinctive Lowestoft foot-rim – triangular in profile
Condition : Excellent; no chips. cracks or flakes; some tiny pinpricks to the glaze which have stained. a little roughness to the very edge of the foot-rim and a burst bubble which has left a tiny hole. again to the foot-rim
Restoration : none
Dimensions : 4.3 cm high x 10.1 cm diameter
Weight : 91 grams

References: Quite why this pattern labours under the nondescript name “Bird and Butterfly” is a bit of a mystery; there are far more significant elements than the almost inconsequential fauna; perhaps the alternatives – “Seated Mandarin Engaged In Tea Ceremony” or “Mandarin Balancing A Box On His Head” – were not considered to have sufficient gravitas…