English Creamware Large Shaped Chinoiserie Dishes

Details

Description

"Parasols and Porcelain": Pair of English Creamware Chinoiserie Dishes,
Circa 1775–85.

An attractive and generously scaled pair of English Creamware … Read more "Parasols and Porcelain": Pair of English Creamware Chinoiserie Dishes,
Circa 1775–85.

An attractive and generously scaled pair of English Creamware dishes, dating from the late 18th century (circa 1775–1785).

These dishes feature the warm, pale yellow glaze and scalloped, molded rim characteristic of the period's refined earthenware (often known as Queen's Ware). The central well displays a charming, hand-painted Chinoiserie figural scene executed in colored enamels: a Chinese lady seated in a wooden chair is attended by two figures. One attendant holds a large parasol (or fan), while the other offers a tray, possibly bearing red apples. The figures are set against stylized red bushes on a green ground. The design is completed by scattered flowering sprigs with green leaves dispersed across the well and rim, unifying the composition.

Measurements:
Diameter: 12 3/4 inches (32.4 cm)
Height: 1 1/4 inches (3.2 cm)

Condition: Good antique condition

Historical Context:
Produced during the "Golden Age" of English Creamware, these dishes illustrate the Georgian era's obsession with Chinoiserie—the European artistic interpretation of East Asian design. While Creamware was perfected by potters like Josiah Wedgwood as a durable, affordable alternative to porcelain, the addition of hand-painted polychrome enamels elevated pieces like these into fashionable luxury items. The central scene, depicting the perceived leisure of Chinese aristocratic life, served as a decorative fantasy designed to meet the Western demand for the exotic.

The Rise of Creamware
These dishes were produced during the golden age of English Creamware (also known as Queen's Ware), a refined type of earthenware perfected by Josiah Wedgwood around 1762. Creamware’s pale, delicate cream color, achieved through a light-colored body and a clear lead glaze, made it a fashionable and more affordable alternative to expensive Chinese and European porcelain. Its popularity in England and throughout Europe solidified the dominance of Staffordshire potters.

Hand-Painted Chinoiserie
The decoration on these dishes is a prime example of the Chinoiserie style—a European artistic interpretation of East Asian design—which was immensely popular throughout the 18th century.

Exotic Appeal: The designs here are hand−painted in a limited palette of colored enamels directly onto the glazed surface. This approach provided a painterly, individual touch to the piece.

Thematic Fantasy: The central figural group, featuring exotic clothing and accessories, represents the European fascination with the perceived leisure and elegance of Chinese aristocratic life. These scenes were decorative fantasies rather than accurate depictions, meeting the Western demand for charming, exotic dinnerware.

These large dishes would have been highly desirable objects, serving not only a utilitarian function but also as symbols of the owner's taste and engagement with the era's fashionable aesthetic currents.

(Ref: NY10447-lamx) See less