Rare Large 35cm Dr Wall / First Period Worcester Porcelain Fancy Birds Leaf Dish C.1768

A particularly good, and very large Worcester porcelain leaf shaped dish, modelled as two over-lapping leaves, with moulded central and side veins and shaped edges. Charmingly, and whimsically, the lower "leaf" is folded back on itself in the lower right hand corner, showing the highly textured, mottled underside (It is difficult to appreciate this detail on scale blue examples, but it can be clearly seen here where the porcelain is unobstructed).

Hand painted in bright enamels, a scene of two fancy birds, of the type sometimes differentiated as "agitated" birds, stood in a landscape of which we can only get small peeks, in amongst the large fleshy plant that smothers the foreground, dotted with red flowers and berries. A third bird perched up in the branches behind. Surrounding the scene are painted six fabulous butterflies, and a moth, again showing the light whimsy the Worcester decorators were on occasion allowed to demonstrate. The central veins of both leaves are stylistically picked out in puce enamel, with a partial gilt edge around the upper stem, defining the start of the overlap. The rims are finished in gilt. Unmarked, c.1768.

Reference: A similarly sized version is illustrated in The Zorensky Collection, Spero, plate 217, but with a far reduced level of decoration and colour palette.

It measures 35cm (13 3/4") long by 25cm (9 7/8") wide and 5cm (2") high at the highest point. This is the largest sized leaf dish that Worcester produced, and examples are very rare.

In excellent condition: there has been a very small loss to the far tip, only about 1mm it appears, and a small flake loss to the surface just behind. The area has been minimally retouched and gilded. Two tiny nicks/chips to the underside of the rim. No other damage, repair or restoration. A small amount of enamel wear in a couple of places but overall handling wear is very light.

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