-
Milk jug
Chelsea Porcelain factory - Enlarge image
Milk jug
- Place of origin:
Chelsea, England (made)
- Date:
1759-1769 (made)
- Artist/Maker:
Chelsea Porcelain factory (maker)
- Materials and Techniques:
Soft-paste porcelain, painted in enamel colours and gilt
- Credit Line:
Bequeathed by Miss Emily S. Thomson
- Museum number:
519-1902
- Gallery location:
British Galleries, room 52b, case 2
Object Type
The jug is from a tea and coffee service for six people. Black teas were more popular in Britain than green teas by the date that this service was made. Like coffee, these fermented black teas were usually drunk with milk or cream and often sweetened with sugar. When a similar Chelsea service was sold in 1770, the jug was described as a 'cream ewer.'
Design & Designing
The service is similar to one offered at auction in London in 1770. This was described as 'a very curious and matchless tea and coffee equipage, crimson and gold, most inimitably enamell'd in figures, from the designs of Watteau'. Although the figure subjects here are not directly copied from the work of the French Rococo painter Jean-Antoine Watteau (1684-1721), they are certainly inspired by his work.
Materials & Making
The Chelsea porcelain factory introduced the crimson ground around 1760, when a London auction of Chelsea porcelain included 'a few pieces of some new Colours which have been found this year by Mr [Nicholas] Sprimont, the Proprietor, at a very large Expence, incredible Labour, and close Application'.
