Slop Basin thumbnail 1
Slop Basin thumbnail 2
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On display
Image of Gallery in South Kensington

Slop Basin

1759-1769 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Object Type
The basin is from a tea and coffee service for six people. It would have been used by the lady of the house, as a receptacle for the dregs from cups, when pouring further cups of tea. In some18th-century portraits, these basins can be seen set on tea tables and covered with a plate of cakes or slices of bread.

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'.

Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Soft-paste porcelain, painted in enamel colours and gilt
Brief description
Slop basin, porcelain, Chelsea Porcelain factory, London, 1759-1769
Dimensions
  • Height: 10.16cm
  • Width: 17.78cm
Dimensions checked: Registered Description; 01/01/1998 by KN
Gallery label
(27/03/2003)
British Galleries:
TEA SERVICE, from a tea and coffee service

1759-1769

This English porcelain tea service is typical of those used in wealthier households during the 18th century. It consists of a teapot and stand, cups and saucers, a milk jug, a bowl for sugar and a dish for the tea dregs called a slop basin.
Credit line
Bequeathed by Miss Emily S. Thomson
Object history
From tea set - museum nos. 517 to 523-1902
Subject depicted
Summary
Object Type
The basin is from a tea and coffee service for six people. It would have been used by the lady of the house, as a receptacle for the dregs from cups, when pouring further cups of tea. In some18th-century portraits, these basins can be seen set on tea tables and covered with a plate of cakes or slices of bread.

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'.
Collection
Accession number
520-1902

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Record createdMarch 27, 2003
Record URL
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