- VASE & COVER 1770-5 (cover & handles c.1890)
This is a particularly handsome example of a Bristol vase. The all-over
cellular pattern imitating sharkskin forms a rich ground for the flower
sprays and chinoiserie figures. Originally the vase had a cover but this
had been lost by the time the vase was acquired by Francis Fry's son,
Theodore. He sent the vase to the Sevres factory near Paris and had a
new cover made and the rope-twist handles added at a cost of £9.
The painting on the the cover is more contrived and the quality of the
porcelain is far superior to the earlier. experimental Bristol body.
PLYMOUTH AND BRISTOL HARD-PASTE PORCELAIN
The first true, or hard-paste, porcelain made in Britain was produced in
Bristol around 1765 by William Cookworthv. This early venture failed
because of the technical difficulty of firing the wares at the very high
temperatures required (1200-1400°C). In 1768 Cookworthy began production
in Plymouth but, two years later, returned to Bristol. He retired in
1773 and the factory was taken over by Richard Champion.
- Large hexagonal vases were the most spectacular
products of the Bristol hard-paste factory. They were made in sets of
2,3 or 5 to stand on a mantelpiece.