Two Swan Precipice Pattern Tea bowl c.1757-60
A beautiful and very finely potted early Worcester tea bowl in a very rare pattern, considered to be one of the first printed patterns used by the Worcester factory and dating to the period prior to 1760.
This pattern can be found in the classic Worcester reference work by Branyan French and Sandon "Worcester Blue and White Porcelain 1751-90" on page 329 pattern II.B.3
They classify this pattern as VERY RARE. They comment that the style of the engraving is very like that of "The Man in the Pavillion" and is possibly done by the same hand. The subject matter is similar to that on the reverse of "The Man Leaning on a Fence" pattern.
At the time of publication they were only aware of three examples of this print all of which were in private collections.
This publication, although still considered a classic text was last published in 1989 and so is 36 years old.
To my knowledge two examples of this pattern on a tea bowl with saucer have gone to market in the last eleven years and one tea bowl on its own.
A tea bowl and saucer sold at Bonhams in Jan 2014.
More recently a tea bowl and saucer was sold by englishporcelainonline.com.
And one lone tea bowl was sold in Australia by Moorabool
If we go back twenty-six years to 1999 a tea bowl and saucer was sold as part of the Watney collection and can be found in the Watney auction catalogue volume 1, pg.97 illustration 187.
The Watney tea bowl had a rim chip and the Moorabool bowl had a chip to the foot rim (but is not the bowl for sale here).
The Watney bowl and saucer is probably one of the three in private collections mentioned by Branyan, French and Sandon.
It is difficult to be sure how many recorded examples there are today, but its clear that this pattern does not come for sale frequently.
This is a lovely bowl in respect to the quality of the porcelain it's self which is white, translucent and very thinly yet evenly potted.
These early bowls were hand thrown. Forgiving the small chip to the foot rim this is a superb example, the print being clear and the glaze in very good condition.
Maker's marks:
None
Dimensions:
80mm diameter at the rim and 38mm tall
Weight:
44g
Age:
265 years
Condition:
Good antique condition: A small chip to the outside of the foot rim (which has been filled) and a tiny flat chip under the foot rim possibly from time of manufacture. The glaze is excellent with minimal wear. The porcelain is finely potted white and translucent. The top edge slightly everted and fine. The print clear and sharp.
Maker:
First period Worcester
