Patent Ironstone Chinoiserie Pattern Covered Bowl by Masons, 1820

Details

Description

A highly decorative Mason’s Patent Ironstone large covered bowl produced in Staffordshire circa 1820, decorated in the early Chinoiserie taste … Read more A highly decorative Mason’s Patent Ironstone large covered bowl produced in Staffordshire circa 1820, decorated in the early Chinoiserie taste for which Mason’s became widely admired. The design adapts the visual language of Chinese export porcelain into richly coloured English ironstone.

The bowl’s rounded body, domed cover and original gilt floral finial create a strong display silhouette. The ornate moulded finial, more ornamental than strictly functional, reflects the decorative ambition associated with finer Mason’s serving pieces of the early 19th century.

The decoration is richly executed, with deep cobalt-blue grounds, orange-red reserves, stylised floral ornament, architectural motifs and extensive gilding. Both the interior and exterior are fully decorated, including a painted medallion with Chinese-style figures and pavilion scenes — a more elaborate feature rarely found on standard Mason’s covered wares.

The dense palette, theatrical reserves and pseudo-Chinese figural decoration reflect Mason’s early interpretation of Chinese export porcelain. This Oriental taste became one of the defining features of early Mason’s Ironstone, combining the visual richness of imported Asian porcelain with durable English ironstone production.

Its substantial weight, glossy glaze and richly enamelled surface are fully consistent with Mason’s patented ironstone body, developed to imitate the richness of imported porcelain while remaining practical for domestic use. Pieces of this type were prized as decorative dining and display wares in early 19th-century Britain.

Its state of preservation is excellent. The enamels remain bright, the cobalt ground rich, and the gilding unusually fresh, suggesting a piece that saw very little practical use. Such preservation, especially with the original cover intact, greatly enhances both decorative and collector appeal.

Dimensions:
Height 17 cm
Diameter 17.2 cm
Weight 776 g

Condition:
Small chips to the finial and a few tiny chips to the cover rim. Otherwise exceptionally preserved antique condition, with bright enamels, strong gilding and very little visible wear.

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