Fine Large Rockingham Porcelain Basket View The Needles, Isle Of Wight

A fabulous large early 19th century Rockingham porcelain basket with very finely painted central scene of The Needles depicting 3 sailing boats and a rowing boat on the sea in front of the needles in the background, against an atmospheric sky with a few other boats scattered in the distance. The scene is framed with a gilt border of twining vine leaves. The basket has relief moulded overlapping leaf decoration at each end with the veins picked out in gilt and the sides encrusted with flowers and sprays of buds and blossom painted in bright pastel enamels. The handle designed to appear as criss-crossing twigs also has some small blossom branches, the central cross gilded and with further gilt highlights down the stems. Marked to the reverse with the named view "The Needles, Isle Of Wight", painted in red enamel. No factory mark.

References: Rockingham 1745-1842, Alwyn & Angela Cox, plate 240 and colour plate 108 for similar baskets with different landscapes.

It measures 30.7cm (12 1/8") long, 12.8cm (9") wide and 11.5cm (4 1/2") high.

Condition is very good: there is a single very fine hairline across the lower part of one handle. Some usual losses to some of the petals. Very minor gilt wear here and there. The porcelain surface is finely crazed. The enamel scene is in fine order.