Tucker China Factory
Pair of Pitchers

CultureAmerican
Titles
  • Pair of Pitchers
Datec. 1826–1838
Made inPennsylvania, Philadelphia, United States
MediumHard-paste porcelain with enamel and gilding
Dimensions(.1): 9 1/4 × 7 11/16 × 5 7/8 in. (23.5 × 19.5 × 15 cm)
(.2): 9 7/16 × 7 7/8 × 6 11/16 in. (24 × 20 × 17 cm)
Credit LineThe Bayou Bend Collection, museum purchase funded by the Ima Hogg Ceramic Circle in honor of their 45th anniversary and in anticipation of their 50th anniversary
Object numberB.2021.5.1,.2
Current Location
Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens
Bayou Bend Dining Room
On view

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Department
Bayou Bend
Object Type
Description

During the 1820s and 1830s, imported wares dominated the market in the United States for fine ceramics: English, French, and Chinese goods were prominent. In this climate, William Ellis Tucker of Philadelphia in 1826 began a firm to manufacture porcelain. With the help of outside investors, he succeeded in making fine quality tablewares and decorative pieces, with most designs influenced by contemporary French wares. Unfortunately, it was a costly and demanding business, and financial struggles continued. A nationwide financial panic in 1837 contributed to the company’s demise in 1838.

These two pitchers, in Tucker’s popular “vase” shape, feature three fanciful riverside landscape scenes, each framed by bands of gilding and surrounded by flowers and gilt foliage. When turned with their spouts facing away from one another, the same scene is visible on each pitcher.


Provenance[Artemis Gallery, North Salem, New York]; purchased by MFAH, 2021.
Inscriptions, Signatures and Marks
[No inscriptions]
[No marks]

Cataloguing data may change with further research.

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