H80.114.2

Gift of Mrs. Alice Requa Weeks
H80.114.2


Dregs bowl and cake plate. Description: a. bowl white pottery with lip of pink luster glaze. Interior is plain. Outside is decorated with a 2 inch floral pattern. The bottom has a thin ring of pink luster glaze. b. Plate-white pottery with lip of pink luster glaze. 2 inch ring of floral pattern. Interior white with thin ring of pink luster glaze. Dimensions: a. 6 1/8 diameter, height 3 inches. cracked b. 7 3/4 inch. diameter. Height 1 1/2 inches. References/Remarks: Although no mark indicates the origin of this piece, it is designated as "English" because it is lustreware in a typical English style. DeYoung number Filmer #3. From the History Information Station: Object: Dregs bowl (for dumping used tea leaves) and serving plate from a larger tea set. Made of pottery called lustreware, because of the metallic lustre of the glaze. The lustre on these pieces comes from powdered gold mixed into the glaze, which, when applied over a very light clay body, looks poink and shiny. Made circa 1830. History: Lustreware was first commercially produced in England in the 1790s. Throughout the 1800s it was popular as an elegant yet less expensive alternative to silver. Though often called "poor man's silver," lustreware was so opulent that even millionaires collected it. These pieces were used in the home of Piedmont millionaire Isaac Requa. Requa made his fortune from silver mines and had an ample collectin of silver dishes. But the allure of this pink gold also captured his interest.
Bookmark and Share