A rare pair of Worcester junket dishes, circa 1758
Of lobed circular form, with crisply moulded basket-weave grounds reserving three scroll-edged panels painted in blue with chinoiserie riverscapes, including a fisherman on an island, and a figure in a sampan, the border with floral sprigs, 23.1cm diam, one with workman's mark (2)
Footnotes:
This earliest shape of Worcester junket dish is more often painted with floral panels. Branyan, French and Sandon, Worcester Blue and White Porcelain (1989) record two single examples with Chinese landscape panels which they designated the 'Bamboo Pavilion' (I.B.23) and 'The Neighbours' (I.B.23A). Since publication, two further junket dishes have been noted, both with entirely different Chinese scenes in each of the panels. The present pair matches one of these. It is curious why the Worcester factory should have created so many totally different patterns with which to decorate these rare objects. An example with 'The Neighbours' was sold by Bonhams, 2 December 2009, lot 131.
This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: *
* VAT on imported items at a preferential rate of 5% on Hammer Price and the prevailing rate on Buyer's Premium.

The dish on the left hand side of the photo has a small, shallow chip to the outside edge of the rim, approximately 4mm x 3mm in size but is otherwise in good condition. The dish on the right hand side of the photo is in good condition. There is some kiln sand adhering to the glaze at points on the rims of both dishes, visible in the catalogue photo and of little significance.