Type Name:

PORCELAIN, ENGLISH SOFT PASTE

Category:

PORCELAIN

Production Origin:

ENGLAND

Production Date Range:

1745-1800

Defining Attributes:

A hard, compact, chalky-appearing and somewhat vitrified white paste, that is softer and more granular than Asian porcelains.

Covered with a semi-gloss, transparent lead or feldspathic glaze that is not completely fused with the paste, appearing as a thin line in cross section. Running of the glazes can occur on some of the earliest examples.

Decoration is most commonly underglaze hand painting, in a dark (sometimes almost navy) blue, as compared to the bright cobalt blue of Chinese porcelains. Blue transfer printed designs can also occur.

Motifs include chinoiserie, floral and naturalistic designs.

Vessel Forms:

BOWL
CUP
PITCHER
PLATE
PLATTER
SAUCER
TEA POT
TUREEN

Comments:

English soft-paste porcelains were largely replaced by Bone China (a variety of hard-paste porcelain) by the early 19th century. The English soft paste porcelains in this collection are most likely from Worcester, and date between 1770-1780.

Published Definitions:

Miller and Stone 1970; Noel Hume 1970; 2001; Miller 2002; www.jefpat.org/diagnostic/Historic_Ceramic_Web_Page/Historic_Main.htm