A Worcester Leaf Dish, circa 1768
The shape of this dish, with its two overlapping moulded cabbage leaves, derives from Meissen. Painted with winged insects, a mushroom, hazelnuts, apples, currants, cherries and a damson, the stalks are picked out in puce and entwined to form a handle, all within a gilt line rim.
Whilst executed at the factory, the decoration has many similarities to that produced in the London workshops of James Giles. The loosely arranged fruit and insects, the upturned mushrooms, and butterflies with spotted, outstretched wings are often associated with Giles.
In use from the middle part of the 1750s, dishes such as this were issued in several sizes, although production does seem to have been restricted to Worcester alone amongst English factories.
Unmarked.
Condition: Good – just light surface wear to the enamel decoration and gilt line from use, and a small firing flaw to the rim. No damage or restoration.
Dimensions: Length 26.5 cm
Worcester Porcelain 1751-1790: The Zorensky Collection, Simon Spero & John Sandon (Antique Collectors’ Club, 1996).