Late 18th Century Chinese Export Porcelain Cream Jug With Applied Floral Decoration

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A distinctive late 18th-century Chinese export porcelain cream jug, circa 1770–1800, featuring an unusually sculptural reeded strap handle embellished with … Read more A distinctive late 18th-century Chinese export porcelain cream jug, circa 1770–1800, featuring an unusually sculptural reeded strap handle embellished with hand-applied floral and foliate terminals.

The softly modeled pear-form body rises from a circular foot to a gently flared neck and pouring lip. Restrained iron-red and brown overglaze enamel decoration includes a hand-painted floral sprig, delicate feathered decoration around the rim, and dimensional floral elements accenting the handle attachments. The sparse decoration against the luminous white porcelain gives the jug an elegant simplicity characteristic of Chinese porcelain produced for the Western export market.

Particularly noteworthy is the elaborate reeded strap-form handle with applied floral terminals, a decorative construction documented on Chinese export porcelain of the late 18th century. The form, scale, decoration, and handle treatment are consistent with examples produced during the Qianlong period, although the jug is unmarked and no specific kiln or workshop attribution is made.

At approximately 5 inches high, the jug would originally have formed part of a tea or coffee service, functioning as a cream or milk jug. Today, its restrained palette and highly sculptural handle make it equally appealing as a decorative object.

Origin: China
Period: Late 18th Century
Date: Circa 1770–1800
Material: Porcelain
Decoration: Hand-painted iron-red and brown overglaze enamels with applied floral/foliate decoration
Form: Cream / milk jug
Mark: Unmarked
Height: Approximately 5 inches See less