Saucer, Worcester, soft paste porcelain, c.1758

This finely-potted small saucer is printed with the delightful Red Bull pattern, one of the earliest printed designs employed at Worcester for roughly a ten-year period from c.1754. The detailed overglaze printed pattern, derived from a famille rose original of the Yongzheng period, is hand-painted in bright enamels with the eponymous red bull and attendants in an oriental landscape.

The colour, paste and potting is typical of early Worcester production, and a number of small clay tears are visible on the reverse. These manufacturing faults are often to be seen on wares from this period.

Unmarked.

Condition: No restoration, just a tiny pin-head size chip to the rim and a short associated crack of 1cm in length. This slight damage is barely noticeable from the front. Minor wear from use.

Dimensions: Diameter 4 13/16" (12.2cm)

The Zorensky Collection, Simon Spero & John Sandon (Antique Collectors' Club, 1996).