Bowl, fable design

Date1750-1752

Artist/Maker Chelsea Porcelain Manufactory 1745-1769

MediumSoft-paste porcelain

DimensionsDia: 4 1/16"; H: 3 1/16"

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1962-42

DescriptionDeep, fluted bowl with scalloped rim paint with brown line. Decorated in overglaze enamels, on the exterior with the scene of "Monkey and Bear", in the "fable" style. The bear is seated to the left with his mouth open, the monkey is to the right, facing the bear, wearing a red cape and long queue. He holds a three-cornered hat in his left hand and a picture of a landscape in his right hand. Knarled, almost leafless tree to the far left; the grass is yellow and green. A blue and purple mountain is to the far right and there are blue clouds in the sky. Reverse shows yellow flower in front of long stem of purple flowers. The interior bottom shows blue flower, 2 blue buds and green leaves.

Raised anchor period.Label TextLarger than the normal tea bowl or beaker of the period, this may be a "water bowl" (finger bowl), a slop bowl from a fable tea service, or even an all-purpose bowl. The subject of the fable on the bowl, if indeed it is a fable, cannot be seen either in Barlow or in Croxall. Other editions of Aesop sometimes include a monkey in the role of a judge. John Gay published the fable of "The monkey who had seen the world," which better fits the scene painted on this bowl.

Raised anchor period.Inscription(s)NoMark(s)NoProvenanceEx coll: M.G. Kaufman, Chicago