Title: Transfer Decorated Staffordshire Bourdaloue, c.1820Provenance/Additional Info: A rare and most unusual piece of blue transferware Staffordshire: a Bourdaloue decorated in the “2 Temples 2" pattern dating c. 1820. Bourdaloues were personal hygiene items for women in the 17th to 19th centuries: an anatomically shaped vessel that could be used in situations where getting to a water closet or similar area of privacy was difficult or impossible. They were used on long carriage rides, during 5 and 6-hour sermons in drafty churches, and, I am told, even at dinner parties (where the men could simply excuse themselves and use a corner of the room). Legend has it that “Bourdaloues" were named for a 17th century French priest, Louis Bourdaloue, who regularly preached 6 and 7 hour sermons in cold, drafty churches where it would have been impolite (or worse) for a woman to leave the church in the middle of one of these marathon preaching sessions. More specifics can be provided, but I think your imagination can fill in the details. The transfer on this Bourdaloue shows a popular Chinoiserie pattern that was made by 5 or 6 Potteries in the early 19th century, including Spode, Wedgwood and Davenport. There are several variations of this design and this is the “2 Temples 2" variety. It shows a pagoda landscape and an arched bridge with 2 figures; note the transfer on the inner border and along the handle – delicate work, to be sure. It measures 9" (from handle to the rounded tip) X 3" (across at the widest part of the opening back by the handle) X 3 1/2" high at the handle. There are no marks, only collection stickers from the Loren Zeller Collection; Mr. Zeller was long-time President of the Transferware Collectors Club. Condition on this piece is excellent: it is clean (definitely a plus for something like this!) and free of chips, cracks or lines; it is worthy of any collection. Many people confuse this form with a large gravy boat, not something I want to contemplate!
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