First Period Worcester Sauce Tureen & Spoon Compagnie Des Indes

Fabulous first period Worcester sauce tureen with cover and spoon, c.1770. Decorated with a "wet blue" ground with white reserves decorated with floral sprays painted in polychrome enamels. The bowl is bombe shape with a curved rim, reflected in the shape of the lid which is lobed. A pretty flower form knop with moulded leaves is applied to the lid and ornate scallop shell finger holds to the sides of the bowl. The spoon has the blue ground to the front and matching floral spray the the bowl. The reverse has a moulded scallop shell form terminal. All pieces highlighted with gilding, to finish off a really lovely and unusual piece.

Open crescent mark to the bowl.

It measures 12cm (4 3/4") high, 17cm (6 3/4") long and 11cm (4 1/4") wide.

Condition is excellent: there are a couple of tiny frits to the foot rim and a few frits to the rim of the spoon. There is a silver band around the spoon handle near the bowl which I presume very neatly hides and strengthens a old repair, a very smart solution in my view. No other damage or restoration to any of the pieces. Quite a few firing marks to the spoon bowl and handle I mention for completeness.