Rare and Important Early Worcester Waste Bowl

A very rare and important waste bowl, made and decorated in blue and red at the Worcester porcelain factory.

Blue and red decorated porcelain is commonly associated with Liverpool manufacturers, or imported wares, or wares that have been later decorated with the iron red added.

However, it is known from the excavation of the Worcester factory site, that blue and red decoration was experimented with very early in the factories history.  A very few examples exist. 

Three small tankards (or coffee cans) are known.

One such tankard from the Zolensky collection sold at Bonhams in March 2004 for £2,509.

One of these has workmans marks in both red and blue, which is evidence that the decoration was done in-house.

This waste bowl is the only other piece, of which I'm aware, that has both the red and blue workmen's marks, which makes it extremely rare.

The patterns are "plantation pattern" and an early experimental pattern known as "Pavillion Garden".

Maker's marks:
Workmans marks in underglaze blue and on-glaze red.  Also a large number twelve painted on the bottom in a thin red wash.  All original marks.  

Dimensions:
153 mm diameter at the rim, height 72 mm

Weight:
273 g

Age:
270 years

Condition:
Excellent condition, no chips cracks or restoration.  The inside of the bowl, the glaze is worn.  Three firing cracks on the foot rim from time of manufacture

Maker:
Dr Wall Worcester porcelain