A blanc de Chine English-decorated mug early 18th century

A blanc de Chine English-decorated mug early 18th century, originally left in the white, later-enamelled in London with a shaped floral panel between long flowering tendrils, the foot and shoulder with a band of stiff leaves, the ribbed neck with further flower sprays, all in red and gilt, 9.5cm.

Provenance: the Helen Espir Collection, no. 886. Purchased from R & G McPherson, December 2003.

Illustrated: Helen Espir, European Decoration on Oriental Porcelain, p.213, pl.12.

This shape was copied by Dehua potters from examples of English silver or European stoneware. While fairly common in both media, very few examples of this shape are known in English porcelain.