Vase thumbnail 1
On display
Image of Gallery in South Kensington

Vase

ca. 1755-57 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Object Type
This vase was probably purely decorative. Sets of three, five, seven or even nine vases were known as 'suites of vases' in the 18th and early 19th centuries. They were commonly set out on mantelpieces, with the largest one in the middle, much as today.

Materials & Making
This type of printing in more than one colour is only found on porcelain made or decorated at the Vauxhall porcelain factory. The polychrome effect was probably achieved by using animal glue transfers together with a pouncing technique. The printer first took a copper printing plate engraved with the design and oiled the surface. He then wiped it clean, so that the oil remained only in the engraved lines of the design. He then printed this design in oil onto a pliable sheet of animal glue. This was then laid onto the curved surface of the vase, transferring the design. A workman then 'pounced' (dusted) finely-ground enamel pigments onto the surface. These adhered only to the printed design and the rest was brushed away. Finally, parts of the design were then strengthened by a painter using a brush and the design was fused to the glaze by firing the vase in a small kiln.

Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Tea Jar
  • Cover
Materials and techniques
Soft-paste porcelain, transfer-printed in colours
Brief description
C

C
Dimensions
  • Height: 16.51cm
  • Approx. width: 7.1cm
Dimensions checked: Registered Description; 01/01/1998 by KN
Gallery label
(27/03/2003)
British Galleries:
The Vauxhall factory was run by Nicholas Crisp (about 1704-1774). He was a member of the Society of Arts, which was established in 1754 to encourage British industries faced with foreign competition. Crisp was representative of the commercially-minded entrepreneurs who founded the English porcelain industry.
Credit line
Given by Mrs Newman Neild, in memory of Dr Newman Neild, through the English Ceramic Circle
Object history
Made at the Vauxhall porcelain factory, London
Summary
Object Type
This vase was probably purely decorative. Sets of three, five, seven or even nine vases were known as 'suites of vases' in the 18th and early 19th centuries. They were commonly set out on mantelpieces, with the largest one in the middle, much as today.

Materials & Making
This type of printing in more than one colour is only found on porcelain made or decorated at the Vauxhall porcelain factory. The polychrome effect was probably achieved by using animal glue transfers together with a pouncing technique. The printer first took a copper printing plate engraved with the design and oiled the surface. He then wiped it clean, so that the oil remained only in the engraved lines of the design. He then printed this design in oil onto a pliable sheet of animal glue. This was then laid onto the curved surface of the vase, transferring the design. A workman then 'pounced' (dusted) finely-ground enamel pigments onto the surface. These adhered only to the printed design and the rest was brushed away. Finally, parts of the design were then strengthened by a painter using a brush and the design was fused to the glaze by firing the vase in a small kiln.
Bibliographic reference
For a similar vase, see The English Ceramic Circle, Ceramics of Vauxhall (2007), cat. 28, where dated ca. 1755-57
Collection
Accession number
C.5&A-1935

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Record createdMarch 27, 2003
Record URL
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