Tea and coffee service (74 pieces)
China
1800-1820
Measurements
See measurements in "Comments" below.
Materials
Gilded and enameled porcelain
Credit Line
Historic Odessa Foundation, gift of H. Rodney Sharp
Accession Number
1966.310
Condition Notes
Although the forms of all of the tea and coffee service objects are of the same time frame, and the complex borders match in all details, the color of the undecorated bodies ranges from a bluish tint through white to a warm white. These differences may represent different pottery sources in China that contributed to the large set, which in turn was decorated in a single place. The coffeepot (accession no. 1966.310.2) has a staple repair and large chip at the top of the handle.
Provenance
Ex coll. H. Rodney Sharp. According to a typewritten history accompanying the coffee and tea set, it was first owned by Sarah Towers (d. 1815), who married Issachar Evans (c. 1756-1790) of Philadelphia. She bequeathed the porcelain to her daughter Martha P. Evans, who never married. Martha gave the set to Mary Knight Fraser (1877-1936), at age 5. Mary married Joseph Piersol Trago (1876-1965), who sold the set to Sharp on May 19, 1939. Given the likely time this service was made, the provenance requires substantiation.
Comments
The tea and coffee service includes a cylindrical teapot, a "lighthouse"-shaped coffeepot, a creamer (of "inverted helmet" design), a lidded sugar bowl, a slop bowl, XX coffee cups, and YY tea cups and saucers. The hollow-ware forms have interlaced strap handles except the cream pitcher. The coffee cups are cylindrical, and the tea cups have no handles. The saucers have deep sides. The burnt orange and gilt decoration features a central spray of what appears to be a grape vine with very large leaves. Grapes clusters also decorate the borders. A gold band marks the edges.
Dimensions
.1 tea pot: 6 in x 9-1/4 in x 5-1/4 in (dia)
.2 coffee pot: 8 in x 8-1/2 in x 5 in (dia)
.10 tea cup (one of eight): 1-7/8 in x 3-3/8 in (dia)
.27 coffee cup (one of thirteen): 2-5/8 in x 3-5/8 in x 2-5/8 in (dia)
.30 tea saucer (one of nineteen): 1-1/8 in x 5-1/2 in (dia)
.62 small plate (one of eight): 7/8 in x 6-1/4 in (dia)
.68 deep dish (one of tw): 1-1/2 in x 7-3/4 in (dia)
.70 plate (one of two): 1-1/8 in x 7-3/4 in (dia)
.72 sugar bowl (one of two): 5-1/2 in x 5-3/4 in x 4-3/8 in (dia of lid)
.74 creamer (one of two): 5-1/8 in x 6-1/2 in x 3-5/8 in
.75 slop bowl (one of two): 2-5/8 in x 5-3/8 in (dia)
