Sugar Dish

Dateca. 1730

MediumTin-glazed earthenware (delft / delftware)

DimensionsOH: 5"; Diam. 4"

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1964-442,A&B

DescriptionCylindrical pot with small foot ring; shallow-domed flanged cover with elongated knopped finial. White tin glaze decorated in red with floral sprays and Chinese good-luck symbols; on the cover, the same floral sprays and a bird; narrow blue banding around base, edges, and finial.Label TextAlthough often called trinket pots, containers of this form are now generally thought to be sugar dishes. Some are decorated with the same motifs that are found on teaware and the forms are similar to those in miniature tea sets.

It has been suggested that this is a married piece because the cover and the dish are decorated with different designs. The size and proportion of the cover as well as its color and decoration complement the bowl, suggesting that if the two were not designed to go together, a switch was made early, perhaps at the factory. The decoration is similar to that found in blue on a punch bowl in the CWF collection (accession 1960-841) and on a London shaving basin (accession 1987-818).
Inscription(s)NoMark(s)NoneProvenanceTilley & Co., London