Very Rare Polychrome Decorated Pickle Dish c1758

A very rare 1st period Worcester porcelain leaf shaped pickle dish c1757/58.

Modelled in the shape of a vine leaf with a serrated rim and small stalk at the base, the underside being modelled with veins.

The leaf is finely painted with a central pink rose and various coloured sprigs in the style of Meissen porcelain from some 20/30 years earlier.

Because of the problems caused by salts and acids in pickles and preserves, most factories produced pickle dishes in underglaze blue only.

Examples in polychrome from this early period of production are therefore extremely rare.

See Bonhams auction catalogue for the sale of the Butti collection in may 2006 Lot 54 for a very similar pickle leaf which at the time was thought to be the only one recorded. This example may be one of perhaps only 2 or 3 known to date.

The dish measures 9.0 cm across and 8.3 cm long including the stalk handle.

Condition is excellent with just very slight staining visible to a few of the rim tips and no cracks.

A fabulous example of early Worcester porcelain.