Worcester Scratch Cross Tankard c1753-4
Directory: Antiques: Decorative Art: Ceramics: English: Porcelain: Pre 1800: Item # 1246156
Please refer to our stock # zp662 when inquiring.
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An extremely fine and beautiful Worcester mug or tankard of Scratch Cross type. The tankard, which has a grooved strap handle, flares, or spreads, toward the bottom, a shape which evolved from the silver form popular at the beginning of the 18th century.
Painted in a variety of colors with a standing Long Eliza figure, another figure seated at a table to her left, and a third figure and garden seat to her right. A tall gilded stand is behind the table. This pattern, taken from the Chinese, was used almost exclusively on large jugs and tankards. Also, in imitation of Chinese porcelain, the glaze on these pieces was of a grayish hue. Marked with an incised line on the base below the handle.
Aside from a very small restored chip at the rim above the handle, the mug is in excellent condition, with bright colors and no other chips or restoration. The piece is quite large at 4 3/4" tall, a diameter of 3 7/16" at the top and 4" at the base.
IMPORTANT NOTES: 1. An almost identical example with a bird cage, but one less figure, was in the March 16, 2004 Zorensky sale at Bonhams, bringing 1500 pounds. However, that mug had substantially more condition issues (chips to the foot and the lower handle terminal) than the one offered here. 2. A tankard of this type was part of the Simon Spero Exhibition in 1995.
