Description:
English porcelain (bone china) octagonal plate, one of 32 replacement pieces decorated with the arms of the County Durham branch of the Hopper family in iron red, turquoise, black, grey, blue, and gilding. The pieces include 9 octagonal plates, 12 small octagonal plates, 1 large platter, 1 serving dish, 1 serving bowl, 2 tureens with covers, 4 stands, and 2 square dishes inscribed in script in red enamel on the base, "M. Hopper. 1809." These pieces were made as replacements for the original circa 1755 Chinese export porcelain dinner service (see HD 86.060) ordered by the Hopper family, probably John Hopper of Shincliff, who married Elizabeth Hilton in 1752 and had three sons; their second son, Robert, Chancellor of the County Palentine of Durham and Recorder of Newcastle, married Anne Williamson, and from whom is descended the family of Hopper-Williamson. In the course of use many Chinese export porcelain tea and dinner services suffered damage and loss. English porcelain manufacturers specialized in producing replacements for broken or missing pieces of Chinese export porcelain services. Manufacturers such as Spode, Worcester, Chamberlain, and Miles Mason provided replacements and additional pieces to large services. For example, in October 1804, Miles Mason advertised himself as one who “through the medium of his wholesale friends, proposes to renew or match the impaired or broken services of the nobility and gentry.” The practicality of using a domestic pottery outweighed the wait and expense of sending to China for additional pieces. Originally thought to be by Worcester Porcelain, members of the English Ceramic Circle during a visit on May 13, 2010, thought that these replacement pieces came from the Worcester area and were made possibly by Chamberlain (w.c.1786-1851) although they also referred to Flight, Barr & Barr. Subtle variations in the glazes, body colors, and bases indicate that not all of this pieces were made at one factory and that another factory may have produced additional blanks to fill this order.
Subjects:
Pottery; Enamel and enameling; glaze (coating by location); polychrome; Porcelain Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=HD+86.134.9 |
