porcelain « Past Imperfect, The Art of Inventive Repair

Posts Tagged ‘porcelain’

Chinese “mille-fleur” plate, c.1865

Thursday, March 25th, 2010

I purchased this 7-3/4″ dessert plate about 20 years ago at a now, sadly departed antique china shop on Greenwich Avenue in NYC. There is nothing extraordinary about this piece, except that it reminded me of my parents collection of Chinese export porcelain, filling a wood hutch and corner cabinet in our dining room.

Beautifully detailed mille-fleur (“thousand flower”) design, rendered in the famille rose pallette, incorporates blossoming peonies, chrysanthemums, lotus flowers, morning glories, hibiscus, roses, daisies and lilies.

The lush border is filled with a variety of birds and butterflies.

This plate was cherished, even after it became broken and was repaired with five metal staples on the back.

These cracks are tightly held in place with staples attached well over 100 years ago.

Tags:Chinese, porcelain, staples/rivets
Posted in plate/platter | No Comments »

Greek style teapot, c.1850

Wednesday, March 24th, 2010

Porcelain teapot made in the UK in the mid nineteenth century with matte finish neoclassical decoration, stands 7.25 inches long by 4.5 inches tall. I originally thought this teapot was made by Samuel Alcock but I have been told it was made by Dudson.

The other side of the teapot with chariot decoration.

Both the handle and the spout have an unusual repair of tightly wrapped metal wire.

The undamaged lid has extra deep sides.

The teapot was also available with a black background, shown here without the wire repairs.

Photo courtesy of eBay

Tags:English, porcelain, Staffordshire, wire
Posted in teapot | 2 Comments »

Globular “Mandarin” teapot with double repairs, c.1750

Wednesday, March 24th, 2010

Chinese export porcelain teapot, from the Qianlong period (1736-1795), has a Mandarin design painted in the famille rose color palette. Teapot measures 7-3/4″ long by 4-3/4″ high.

The same nicely detailed hand painted decoration in polychrome enamels is found on both sides of the teapot.

Aside from a few nibbles on the end, the original porcelain spout has escaped major damage.

Teapot has a double repair, as both the lid and handle have been replaced with hollow tin, gessoed and painted to match the body. These repairs seem to have been done in the early 1900’s and the enamel color, once matching the white porcelain color, has darkened over the years.

Most of the once white enamel which covered the replacement lid has worn away, revealing bare metal.

This Mandarin teapot maintains its original handle and lid.

Photo courtesy of EastWest Gallery

Tags:Chinese, metal handle, metal lid, porcelain, Qianlong
Posted in teapot | No Comments »

Reticulated Nanking chestnut basket, c.1820

Tuesday, March 23rd, 2010

A Chinese export porcelain chestnut basket, measuring 6-3/4″ long and 2-1/2″ high, and decorated with a classic cobalt blue Nanking design.

Baskets such as these with pierced sides were used for fruit, so air could better circulate around the contents. They also had molded porcelain handles, gilded to look like they were made of metal.

How ironic that when the original porcelain “metal” handles broke off, they were replace with actual metal handles.

Metal staples and bolts were also used to help put this piece back together.

This basket in perfect condition, showing original gilt porcelain handles.

Photo courtesy of WorthPoint

Tags:blue & white, Chinese, metal handle, porcelain, staples/rivets
Posted in bowl/dish | No Comments »

“Pekin” pattern cup, c.1880

Monday, March 22nd, 2010

An English porcelain cup made by Beech & Hancock in Stoke-on-Trent in the late 1800’s has hand-painted color washes over a “Pekin” transfer design.

This popular image of two Chinese opium smokers was later altered, deleting all traces of the once legal past time.

The unusual “do-it-yourself” removable handle from the early 1900’s looks like something found at a local hardware store. The remains of the original handle are clearly visible.

A plate showing the later design, minus the opium pipes and more family friendly.

Photo courtesy of the great, great grandson of maker James Beech

Tags:English, metal handle, porcelain
Posted in cup/saucer | No Comments »

Triple repair famille rose teapot, c.1770

Monday, March 22nd, 2010

I love a piece with more than one repair and this great example delivers three times over! A much loved and repaired Chinese porcelain globular teapot from the late eighteenth century has survived over 240 years, more or less intact.

A detail of the floral decoration, painted in polychrome enamels.

Teapot measure 9″ long by 6″ high and both sides are decorated with the same pattern, more or less.

A simple yet graceful bronze metal handle replaces the original.

A silver spout replaces the long gone spout, similar to the original in size and shape.

Even the lid, with a replaced tin inner flange, is from another piece altogether. I wouldn’t be surprised if each of these repairs occurred separately during the life of the teapot.

An armorial teapot with similar shape to mine reveals what the original handle & spout might have looked like.

Photo courtesy of Richard Gould Antiques

Tags:Chinese, globular, metal handle, metal spout, porcelain
Posted in teapot | No Comments »

Chinese armorial sauce boat, c.1780

Saturday, March 20th, 2010

This Chinese porcelain sauce boat was made for export to the American market and has a distinctive Fitzhugh pattern outer rim border, and measures 7.5 inches wide, 2.75 inches high.

It bears an armorial polychrome enamel eagle/dragon, custom ordered by a family of wealth.

The replaced gilt metal handle is beautifully woven with two different colors of rattan.

A similar sauce boat shown with original handle and hard to find matching undertray

Photo courtesy of Starr Antiques

Tags:blue & white, Chinese, Fitzhugh, metal handle, porcelain
Posted in sauce boat | No Comments »

Wedgwood “S.Y.P.” teapot, c.1909

Friday, March 19th, 2010

A tilting teapot invented in 1905 by the Earl of Dundonald from Scotland and coined “Simple…Yet Perfect”. The unique design allows the tea to brew in the built-in infuser shelf as the pot lays on its back, tilts halfway up to drain the hot water from the infuser, then sits upright, ready to pour. Teapot measures 5.75 inches high, 6 inches wide.

The replacement lid is made of Britannia metal (aka britannium), a composite made up of 93% tin, 5% antimony & 2% copper.

The ornately decorated bottom is visible when in use.

An identical teapot with its original lid, seen tilted.

Photo courtesy of Southworks Antiques

Tags:English, metal lid, porcelain, transferware, Wedgwood
Posted in teapot | 3 Comments »

Baluster cruet jug, c.1710

Monday, March 15th, 2010

A unusual Chinese porcelain baluster form cruet jug with beak spout, stands 5-1/2″ high. It is decorated in the Chinese Imari pattern, using cobalt blue and iron red enamel washes and gilt highlights.