Muffin dish (?), of hard-paste porcelain painted in underglaze blue and gilded, Jingdezhen, China, ca. 1795

Muffin dish (?; see Usage note), of hard-paste porcelain painted in underglaze blue and gilded. In the middle is a shield of arms with a crest and mantling, and the motto 'GENEROSO GERMINE GERMO' (see Object history note). Round the rim are borders of diaper, scroll and honeycomb pattern.

Transferred from the Museum of Practical Geology, Jermyn Street

According to Howard 1974 (see References) the arms are of Braithwaite, of Yorkshire and Westmorland: Gules, on a chevron argent, three crosses crosslet fitched sable; crest, A greyhound couchant argent, collared and lined gules. Howard stated that the service of which this once formed part was probably made for Major General Sir John Braithwaite, Commander-in-Chief of the Coast of Coromandel in India. He was created baronet in 1802, and died in the following year. The service was formerly in the Diamond Collection and part was destroyed by fire at Alexandra Palace Fire in 1873.
Given to the Museum of Practical Geology by Dr. Hugh Diamond, FSA, in 1876. Transferred from the Museum of Practical Geology, Jermyn Street, 1901. See also entry for Caughley copy, 3717-1901

Previously catalogued as a soup plate. Such dishes are sometimes known as muffin dishes. However, none of this design is known with a cover, and the muffin dishes made at the English porcelain factories are larger, and were made to hold more than one muffin.

3716-1901