A VERY RARE AMERICAN MARKET CHINESE EXPORT PORCELAIN TODDY JUG
Circa 1800-1810
Circa 1800-1810
A robust and finely potted barrel-shaped jug with gracefully arched cross-strap handles ending in fully modeled antifixes of leaves and berries, each side of the jug with a black enamel depiction of a ship bearing an American pennant on the main mast and a large American flag on the stern, the lid with a fu lion knop, details in gilding.
10 5/8in (27cm) high
1800-1810? ???????????
Although this jug was likely decorated in China, the style of shading implies the source of the image for the Chinese enameller was a watercolor, perhaps Mediterranean in origin, rather than the more common use of a print, which would have resulted in a cross-hatched, linear style. Artists provided ships' crews with paintings of their vessels in ports around the world. One such artist in Naples Italy was Guiseppi Fedi (active 1792-1819) who painted American ships from Marblehead, Boston, Salem, Newburyport and elsewhere.
The ship may be identified as an American merchant ship (bark or brig), around 1800, engaged in trade with China. The rigging has been executed in some detail, with one crew member climbing the ropes and three walking the deck. An anchor and an eagle figurehead are visible on the bow. There is no other known version of this specially ordered design. Other notable maritime jugs decorated with American ships on each side of the handle include two examples with the ship in fair weather and in foul weather. One is in the Peabody Essex Museum (acc. No. E50557), Salem, Massachusetts, another was in the collection of Mrs. H. Insley Blair. On the latter example, under the spout is a mound of land as on this example, which also depicts a small tree.
See Homer Eaton Keyes, "American Ship Lowestoft," in Elinor Gordon ed., Chinese Export Porcelain: An Historical Survey, New York, 1975, pp.127-132, figs. 12-14.
We would like to thank Daniel Finamore, Russell W. Knight Curator of Maritime Art and History, Peabody Essex Museum, for sharing his thoughts on this piece.
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Circa 1800-1810
Circa 1800-1810
A robust and finely potted barrel-shaped jug with gracefully arched cross-strap handles ending in fully modeled antifixes of leaves and berries, each side of the jug with a black enamel depiction of a ship bearing an American pennant on the main mast and a large American flag on the stern, the lid with a fu lion knop, details in gilding.
10 5/8in (27cm) high
1800-1810? ???????????
Although this jug was likely decorated in China, the style of shading implies the source of the image for the Chinese enameller was a watercolor, perhaps Mediterranean in origin, rather than the more common use of a print, which would have resulted in a cross-hatched, linear style. Artists provided ships' crews with paintings of their vessels in ports around the world. One such artist in Naples Italy was Guiseppi Fedi (active 1792-1819) who painted American ships from Marblehead, Boston, Salem, Newburyport and elsewhere.
The ship may be identified as an American merchant ship (bark or brig), around 1800, engaged in trade with China. The rigging has been executed in some detail, with one crew member climbing the ropes and three walking the deck. An anchor and an eagle figurehead are visible on the bow. There is no other known version of this specially ordered design. Other notable maritime jugs decorated with American ships on each side of the handle include two examples with the ship in fair weather and in foul weather. One is in the Peabody Essex Museum (acc. No. E50557), Salem, Massachusetts, another was in the collection of Mrs. H. Insley Blair. On the latter example, under the spout is a mound of land as on this example, which also depicts a small tree.
See Homer Eaton Keyes, "American Ship Lowestoft," in Elinor Gordon ed., Chinese Export Porcelain: An Historical Survey, New York, 1975, pp.127-132, figs. 12-14.
We would like to thank Daniel Finamore, Russell W. Knight Curator of Maritime Art and History, Peabody Essex Museum, for sharing his thoughts on this piece.
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Time, Location
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