Sauce Tureen and Tray
MakerMade by
Unknown
Date1800-1810
MediumMold-formed Chinese export porcelain with overglaze gilding and orange enamel
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (height including lid x width including handles x depth of tureen): 6 x 8 x 4 1/8in. (15.2 x 20.3 x 10.5cm)
Primary Dimensions (width x depth of tray): 7 7/8 x 6in. (20 x 15.2cm)
ClassificationsCeramics
Credit LineBequest of George Dudley Seymour
Object number1945.1.1396.2a-c-.3a-c
DescriptionOval, Chinese export porcelain lidded sauce 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 an orange dot at either end or having an arrow pointing toward the central panel. Imperfections in the porcelain appear as black dots or lines in the surface of the ceramic.
Sauce Tureen (.2a): The sauce 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 handles, where the straps meet the tureen. The Fitzhugh pattern, consisting of two panels of flowers around a central panel, 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. There are two spots of a green substance, possibly paint, adhered to the rim of the sauce tureen.
Lid (.2b): 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. This is surrounded by the Fitzhugh pattern, this time with only two panels of flowers surrounding the circular medallion, 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 enamel is worn at one spot on the rim.
Tray (.2c): The relatively deep, oval tray is decorated with the Fitzhugh pattern, consisting of four 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 enamel and glaze is interrupted at three spots on the surface of the tray; this probably occurred at the time of manufacture.
Museum records indicate that there should be a second sauce tureen and tray pair, 1945.1.1396.3a-c. That pair could not be located at the time of cataloging.
Sauce Tureen (.2a): The sauce 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 handles, where the straps meet the tureen. The Fitzhugh pattern, consisting of two panels of flowers around a central panel, 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. There are two spots of a green substance, possibly paint, adhered to the rim of the sauce tureen.
Lid (.2b): 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. This is surrounded by the Fitzhugh pattern, this time with only two panels of flowers surrounding the circular medallion, 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 enamel is worn at one spot on the rim.
Tray (.2c): The relatively deep, oval tray is decorated with the Fitzhugh pattern, consisting of four 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 enamel and glaze is interrupted at three spots on the surface of the tray; this probably occurred at the time of manufacture.
Museum records indicate that there should be a second sauce tureen and tray pair, 1945.1.1396.3a-c. That pair could not be located at the time of cataloging.
Status
Not on view
