Plate thumbnail 1
On display
Image of Gallery in South Kensington

Plate

ca. 1754-58 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Object Type
This plate is a domestic dinner plate, probably from a set of half a dozen or more. It would have been used as an under-plate when a soup was served, and for eating the first two courses of a meal served in the French manner. According to a slightly later dining manual, 'the first course should consist of soups, boiled poultry, fish and boiled meats, and the second of different kinds of game, high seasoned dishes, tarts, jellies etc.' A servant would have replaced this plate with a clean one of a different design for the dessert.

Materials & Making
The Bow factory manufactured a type of porcelain strengthened with ashes from animal bones. The result was a comparatively durable ceramic material, one that would have been suitable for drinking utensils and other utilitarian wares. The factory made large quantities of blue and white porcelain, which was relatively cheap and aimed at the middle-ranges of the market.

Trading
Bow porcelain was sold from a warehouse on the factory site and from London showrooms, but it could also be purchased at auction or from dealers in London and smaller cities. The factory also sold large quantities to merchants for export to the American colonies and elsewhere.

Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Soft-paste porcelain painted with underglaze blue
Brief description
Plate of soft-paste porcelain painted with underglaze blue, Bow Porcelain Factory, Bow, ca. 1754-58
Physical description
Plate of soft-paste porcelain painted with underglaze blue. Octagonal. Painted with a lady playing a zither in a landscape. Border of Chinese emblems.
Dimensions
  • Diameter: 22.9cm
Dimensions checked: Registered Description; 01/01/1998 by KN
Gallery label
(27/03/2003)
British Galleries:
Bow porcelain contained a large proportion of bone ash. This made it relatively hard-wearing, enabling the factory to compete with imported Chinese wares. Bow wares were comparatively cheap and enjoyed a wide market.
Credit line
Given by E. F. Broderip, Esq.
Subjects depicted
Summary
Object Type
This plate is a domestic dinner plate, probably from a set of half a dozen or more. It would have been used as an under-plate when a soup was served, and for eating the first two courses of a meal served in the French manner. According to a slightly later dining manual, 'the first course should consist of soups, boiled poultry, fish and boiled meats, and the second of different kinds of game, high seasoned dishes, tarts, jellies etc.' A servant would have replaced this plate with a clean one of a different design for the dessert.

Materials & Making
The Bow factory manufactured a type of porcelain strengthened with ashes from animal bones. The result was a comparatively durable ceramic material, one that would have been suitable for drinking utensils and other utilitarian wares. The factory made large quantities of blue and white porcelain, which was relatively cheap and aimed at the middle-ranges of the market.

Trading
Bow porcelain was sold from a warehouse on the factory site and from London showrooms, but it could also be purchased at auction or from dealers in London and smaller cities. The factory also sold large quantities to merchants for export to the American colonies and elsewhere.
Bibliographic reference
Redstone, David. Bow Porcelain, Stoke-on-Trent : City Museum & Art Gallery, 1981 93
Collection
Accession number
C.595-1924

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Record createdMarch 27, 2003
Record URL
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