Plate, Bow, soft paste porcelain, c.1755

The centre of this Bow plate is painted in famille rose enamels with an oriental design of bamboo and a peony issuing from a blue hollow rock. There is also a small flying insect above the peony. The outer edge is painted with trailing foliage and flowers. Some of the flowers and details, notably around the edge, are decorated with gilt, in addition to rich enamel colours.

Bow used bone ash in its recipe for making soft paste porcelain, and this gave a strength and durability, making it eminently suitable for the production of tablewares at a time when most other manufacturers in England restricted themselves to making teawares.

Condition: A crack, visible on both sides, extends from the rim into the well. There are several small chips to the underside of the rim, along with the scratches, wear, staining and crazing that are so typical of Bow wares.

Dimensions: Diameter 9 1/4" (23.5cm)