Soup Tureen and Tray
MakerMade by
Unknown
Date1800-1810
MediumMold-formed Chinese export porcelain with overglaze gilding and orange enamel
DimensionsComponent (height including lid x width x depth of tureen): 6 x 8 x 4 1/4in. (15.2 x 20.3 x 10.8cm)
Component (width x depth of tray): 7 7/8 x 7 7/8 x 6in. (20 x 20 x 15.2cm)
ClassificationsCeramics
Credit LineBequest of George Dudley Seymour
Object number1945.1.1396.1a-c
DescriptionOval, Chinese export porcelain lidded soup tureen and tray with overglaze hand-painted orange enamel decoration in the Fitzhugh pattern. The Fitzhugh pattern consists of four groups of flowers and emblems, or geometric shapes, evenly spaced around a central circular medallion. This central medallion is a circular floral arrangement surrounded by a border consisting of a band of orange with darker lines creating a latticework, or diaper, pattern inside. At four points, this border is interrupted by an area of white with a small orange animal (possibly a dog). This is surrounded by a "Nanking" border, consisting of a series of lines that alternate between having a dot at either end or having an arrow pointing toward the central medallion. Imperfections in the porcelain appear as black dots or lines in the surface of the ceramic.
Soup Tureen (.a): The soup tureen sits on an oval foot and has swelled sides that narrow again just below the rim. Two handles, each consisting of two straps of intertwined porcelain, have been molded and applied to either end of the tureen. There are a group of raised flowers just below the handle, where the straps meet the tureen. The Fitzhugh pattern is hand-painted in orange enamel on either side of the tureen. Below this, at the foot, is a band of orange with darker lines creating a latticework, or diaper, pattern inside. Above the Fitzhugh pattern, at the rim, is an elaborate border composed of geometric shapes, insects, flowers, and portions of the borders printed elsewhere on the tureen. The handles are gilded, and there is a line of gilding at the rim and the foot.
Lid (.b): The domed, oval lid has a projecting rim and molded and applied finial in the center. The gilded finial is an organic shape, perhaps a drooping flower. Surrounding the finial, raised decorations in the shape of leaves have been hand-painted with orange enamel. This is surrounded by the Fitzhugh pattern, this time with only two panels of flowers surrounding the circular panel, hand-painted on either side of the lid. Finally, a border, just like the border at the rim of the tureen decorates the rim. There is a final band of gilding at the outer edge of the rim. The gilding is worn off of four spots on the finial, and an area of orange enamel is missing from the outer edge of the rim. Several very small spots of various unknown substances, one of which is a green substance, have spattered onto the top of the lid. There are a few spots of a dark substance adhered to the underside of the rim as well.
Tray (.c): The deep, oval tray is decorated in the center with the Fitzhugh pattern, this time with six panels of flowers and geometric shapes around the central circular medallion. A wide border is hand-painted on the rim, consisting of geometric shapes, insects, flowers, and portions of the borders printed elsewhere on the tureen. The border is somewhat faded, and there is a line of gilding at the outer edge of the rim. The gilding has worn off of several areas on two floral panels that are located on opposite sides of the tray. Like the lid, several spots of a dark unknown substance have adhered to one end of the tray.
Soup Tureen (.a): The soup tureen sits on an oval foot and has swelled sides that narrow again just below the rim. Two handles, each consisting of two straps of intertwined porcelain, have been molded and applied to either end of the tureen. There are a group of raised flowers just below the handle, where the straps meet the tureen. The Fitzhugh pattern is hand-painted in orange enamel on either side of the tureen. Below this, at the foot, is a band of orange with darker lines creating a latticework, or diaper, pattern inside. Above the Fitzhugh pattern, at the rim, is an elaborate border composed of geometric shapes, insects, flowers, and portions of the borders printed elsewhere on the tureen. The handles are gilded, and there is a line of gilding at the rim and the foot.
Lid (.b): The domed, oval lid has a projecting rim and molded and applied finial in the center. The gilded finial is an organic shape, perhaps a drooping flower. Surrounding the finial, raised decorations in the shape of leaves have been hand-painted with orange enamel. This is surrounded by the Fitzhugh pattern, this time with only two panels of flowers surrounding the circular panel, hand-painted on either side of the lid. Finally, a border, just like the border at the rim of the tureen decorates the rim. There is a final band of gilding at the outer edge of the rim. The gilding is worn off of four spots on the finial, and an area of orange enamel is missing from the outer edge of the rim. Several very small spots of various unknown substances, one of which is a green substance, have spattered onto the top of the lid. There are a few spots of a dark substance adhered to the underside of the rim as well.
Tray (.c): The deep, oval tray is decorated in the center with the Fitzhugh pattern, this time with six panels of flowers and geometric shapes around the central circular medallion. A wide border is hand-painted on the rim, consisting of geometric shapes, insects, flowers, and portions of the borders printed elsewhere on the tureen. The border is somewhat faded, and there is a line of gilding at the outer edge of the rim. The gilding has worn off of several areas on two floral panels that are located on opposite sides of the tray. Like the lid, several spots of a dark unknown substance have adhered to one end of the tray.
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