Worcester Porcelain Manufactory
Tea Bowl

Public Domain

ExpandFavorite

Maker Worcester Porcelain ManufactoryEnglish, established 1751

CultureEnglish

Titles

Tea Bowl
from the "Fence" pattern

Datec. 1765–1785

Made inWorcester, England

MediumSoft-paste porcelain

Dimensions1 5/8 × 3 1/16 in. diameter (4.1 × 7.7 cm)

Credit LineThe Bayou Bend Collection, gift of Marjorie M. Moorhead

Object numberB.97.36.1

Not on view

Explore Further

Department

Bayou Bend

Object Type

CERAMICS

DescriptionDoctor John Wall and three partners established the Worcester Porcelain Factory in 1751. The following year, the firm purchased the Bristol factory of Benjamin Lund and so acquired much technical know-how. The factory soon began producing good quality, thinly potted, and durable soft-paste porcelain that did not crack or craze in contact with hot liquids. It made large quantities of tea and coffee wares and decorative vases. The factory pioneered the use of transfer-printing, from 1757 in black and by 1760 in underglaze blue. In the 1770s, there was a rapid growth in the area of blue transfer-printed wares. This object is decorated in the "Fence" pattern, the most popular of all the Worcester underglaze blue printed designs. It is decorated with a zigzagging fence, two birds in flight, flowers, and an island.
ProvenanceMrs. William H. Moorhead, Houston; given to MFAH, 1997.
Inscriptions, Signatures and Marks

[no inscriptions]

Marked on underside: blue Worcester shaded crescent

Cataloguing data may change with further research.

If you have questions about this work of art or the MFAH Online Collection please contact us.