Pitcher
Decorative Arts and Design
On View: Luce Visible Storage and Study Center, 5th Floor
MANUFACTURER
Union Porcelain Works, 1863–ca. 1922
MEDIUM
Porcelain
DATES
ca. 1885
DIMENSIONS
9 7/16 x 9 5/8 x 6 1/4 in. (24 x 24.4 x 15.9 cm) (show scale)
MARKINGS
Transfer-printed on base in black: "UNION / PORCELAIN / WORKS / GREENPOINT / N.Y." within urn.
Incised in clay underneath glaze, indistinct Z-shaped mark.
INSCRIPTIONS
Painted in reserve on side of body, in gilt: "MANUFACTURED / By / Union Porcelain Works [within sloping orange rectangle with green and red diamond border] / GREENPOINT. / N.Y."
COLLECTIONS
Decorative Arts and Design
ACCESSION NUMBER
2004.71
CREDIT LINE
Gift of Jay and Emma Lewis
CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION
White porcelain pitcher with polychrome and gilded decoration. Ovoid body bulges around middle, tapers at collar, and then flares out as it rises to wide spout; scalloped top rim. Opposing handle bifurcates into two branches at juncture with body. Large reserves on each side of body framed by molded edge; gilded inscription within reserve on one side, reserve on opposite side is blank. Area around top of pitcher above reserves is painted black, although much of the paint is now lost. Hand painted cat tail plants and stalks with yellow flowers frame reserves; some of the leaves wrap around top edge and continue on interior. Triangular form with Orientalizing geometric patterns in gold, purple, and orange between reserves below spout. Strap across top of spout (for catching ice cubes) painted with a crane wading in a naturalistic setting. Top edge ringed with gilt and orange band. Handle is glazed tan and decorated with gilded Chinese fretwork; bottom juncture decorated with blue, magenta, and orange geometric forms.
Condition: Good; most of black glaze around collar is lost; some losses to gilding and scratches in paint.
MUSEUM LOCATION
This item is on view in Luce Visible Storage and Study Center, 5th Floor
CAPTION
Union Porcelain Works (1863–ca. 1922). Pitcher, ca. 1885. Porcelain, 9 7/16 x 9 5/8 x 6 1/4 in. (24 x 24.4 x 15.9 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Jay and Emma Lewis, 2004.71. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 2004.71.jpg)
IMAGE
overall, 2004.71.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2005
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RIGHTS STATEMENT
Creative Commons-BY
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