Mixed Pattern Gallery

INTRODUCTION

Mixed Pattern Forms are those Canton pieces that have one or two of another pattern’s decorative characteristics. Most common is a figure on the bridge normally associated with the Nanking pattern or Nanking’s geometric, lattice like border with spearhead design.

Grouped here in one gallery, the mixed pattern forms are also in the All Forms Gallery.

BOWLS-CREAM SKIMMER

BOWLS-CREAM SKIMMER

This is a very large 18″ diameter and heavy, almost 9 pounds, bowl which was used to skim cream and pour off through the little spout. It is early and very well decorated. This is a Canton/Nanking cross piece: it has the typical Canton scene without a figure on the bridge but it does have a Nanking border. It also appears in the Mixed Pattern Gallery. The bowl has a 1″ blue rim and a 2 1/2″ wide spout that is 2 1/4″ long. It is decorated on the outside by 3 large flowers. The bottom is unglazed.

JARS-DRESSER

JARS-DRESSER

First 4 pictures: this very rare, small, covered jar we believe was used to hold small objects and placed on a person’s dressing table. The jar resembles a round canister but it is squatter than a similar sized canister. We consider this a “Mixed Pattern” form as there is a person on the bridge on the top and bottom. The rain cloud border is on the top only and the decoration is finer on the top compared to the bottom. Note that there are no sampans in the decorations.

PLATES-DINNER-9 5/8″ (Late, Man on Bridge, Rain Cloud Border, “CHINA”)

PLATES-DINNER-9 5/8″ (Late, Man on Bridge, Rain Cloud Border, “CHINA”)

These Dinner Plates are very unusual and rare. Unusual because: there is a man on the bridge, making them a mixed pattern form. The bottoms are marked in bold letters: “CHINA”. They are made of thin porcelain, are quite light and the “CHINA” markings indicate a late manufacturing date.

They are 9 5/8″ in diameter and are 1 1/4″ high. The 2 dinner plates pictured are a representative sample. These late plates have glazed bottoms and rain

POTS-MARMITES

POTS-MARMITES

Very rare and expensive are Marmites. “Marmite” is described as being broth or soup or in more recent times marmite as a brewer’s yeast concentrate. These round straight sided pots with tops took the name of their intended contents. These marmites have spouts and loop handles with tangs. We date them to Mid 19th Century to late 19th as their knobs are simple balls or flattened balls. Note that there is one continuous scene around the Marmites.

We have saved the biggest surprise for last. Marmites are one of the very few Canton forms that have a figure on the bridge! See the last picture for the bridge views and a closeup of the figures holding parasols. They also appear in the Mixed Pattern Gallery. Also notice the unusual use of dark blue dots in the landscape. Both the tops and bottoms have rain cloud borders except the smallest whose top does not.

TEAPOTS-CENSOR

TEAPOTS-CENSOR

A somewhat strange looking teapot is the Censor. They have strongly curved spouts, long handles and pyramid stepped knobs. The top has an air hole under the knob and a triangle border. The rain cloud border appears on the top of the base. This is one of the few Canton forms that has a figure on the bridge. They are also shown in the Mixed Forms Gallery.