Water bottle

Date1740-1775

MediumHard-paste porcelain

DimensionsOH: 9 7/16"; Diam. of body: 5 1/4"

Credit LineMuseum Purchase, From the Estate of Dr. Janet Kimbrough

Object number1993-456

DescriptionBottle with cylindrical foot ring, globular body, tall neck with knop below slightly flaring lip. Decorated in underglaze blue with overall cross-hatched background of small crosses on hatching, large and small white ground reserves with floral sprays, blue scroll border on edge of neck.Label TextBottles of this shape were intended to hold water and were used in the chamber along with a basin, which was often made to match. In a time when few people bathed in tubs and immersion in water was almost unheard of, bottles were an essential part of a person’s morning ritual. Chinese porcelain related to personal hygiene is not commonly found archaeologically, nor does it regularly appear on inventories. However, Thomas Nelson did have “one China basin and bottle” on his household inventory, and this bottle has a history of ownership in the St. George Tucker family of Williamsburg.ProvenancePurchased from William G. Hodges, part of the estate of Dr. Janet Kimbrough.

History of ownership in the St. George Tucker family of Williamsburg.