Museum number
X1186
Object
Bourdaloue
Description
Shaped oval "Bordalue" or vessel for a lady's convenience, hard-paste porcelain, Meissen, c. 1740, the white ground with elaborate scenes painted in enamel colours on either long side, depicting scenes from the Fables of La Fontaine, the upper rim decorated with a solid gold band below which is an elaborate gilt interlace border of great delicacy, at each end sprigs of flowers in Kakiemon style in green, orange and yellow, the inside plain apart from a gilt inscription in the base " "Aux Plaisirs des Dames". Four later gilt metal swags attached at the upper rim and glued at the sides, cermaic cement repairs. The vessel has been cracked, broken and repaired, the centre of the base removed when, presumably, the object was mounted with gilt metal swags, foot rim and stand and dragon handles in the 19th century. The gilt metal bases and dragon handles are now missing.
Inscription
None - centre base missing.
On display?
Yes
Simple name
Ceramic
Subject
Allegorical
Dimensions
regular: 19.5cm (d) x 13.5cm (h) x 9.5cm (w)
‘Bourdaloue’ with Dragon Mounts Meissen Porcelain Factory 1735-40, with later gilt-bronze mounts and liner Inscription inside: ‘Aux Plasirs des Dames’ or ‘For the lady’s pleasure’ This unusual object is a lady’s chamber pot masquerading as a plant pot. It is likely that Sir William Holburne bought it fully assembled, so never of the inscription hidden inside or its intended use. The bourdaloue has recently undergone conservation and been reassembled. Although it has lost its original handle, the porcelain and decoration are of exceptional quality. The lively scenes were probably painted by renowned Meissen decorator Johann George Heintze. One derives from Jean-Antoine Watteau’s painting, La Surprise (c.1718); the other may come from La Fontaine’s fables.

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