Wash basin

1835-1860

Measurements

5 in x 16-1/2 in (dia)

Materials

Glazed, enameled, and gilded porcelain

Credit Line

Historic Odessa Foundation, The David Wilson Mansion, Inc.

Accession Number

1971.775

Provenance

Ex coll. Mrs. E. Tatnall (Mary Corbit) Warner

Comments

The wash basin is elegantly painted in a palette of colors—including pink, blue, aqua, green, yellow, and orange-red, with some gilding—associated with the many and diverse Rose Medallion wares. The basin has four square panels bordered by a Chinese-styled band in red and gilt with a variety of flowers and butterflies against a white field between the panels.  The panels show Chinese figures, some at a table, against a Chinese pavilion.  Three sprays of finely painted red carnations on stems with green leaves decorate the white outside of the basin.  The basin rests on an unglazed foot-ring.  The outside bottom, within the foot-ring, is glazed.

The basin is part of a set of similarly decorated toilet wares including an accompanying water bottle and lid (accession no. 1971.774), a rectangular lidded box (accession no. 1971.778), and a soap dish (accession no, 1971.779).  A mug (accession no. 1971.777) also has similar decoration.