Jug and Basin

Lavish porcelain jugs and basins were used either in the private lavatory, or during the toilette. Displayed on the dressing-table, they were were used for washing hands, as people had breakfast during the lengthy morning ritual. Although sometimes the jugs and basins matched the other toilette items, they were usually sold separately. This set combines a pear-shaped jug with a broad flange, and an oval, undulating basin. Both pieces are decorated with a turquoise-blue ground applied over the entire surfaces, overlaid with baskets of flowers, scrolls, trellis-work, swags, flowers and snow-flake patterns in gilding and jewelled enamelling. The jewelling is applied irrespective of the gilded decoration which, also given its poor quality and the overall stylistic appearance, suggests that both pieces were redecoated at a later point, possibly in England and before 1850.

1769 (with later decoration)

Soft-paste porcelain, gilded, jewelling and enamelling

C456-7

Images and text © Wallace Collection, 2017