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Pitcher
Accession # 2004.71
Manufacturer Union Porcelain Works
Title Pitcher
Date ca. 1885
Medium Porcelain
Dimensions 9 7/16 x 9 5/8 x 6 1/4 in. (24 x 24.4 x 15.9 cm)
Marks Transfer-printed on base in black: "UNION / PORCELAIN / WORKS / GREENPOINT / N.Y." within urn. Incised in clay underneath glaze, indistinct Z-shaped mark.
Inscriptions Painted in reserve on side of body, in gilt: "MANUFACTURED / By / Union Porcelain Works [within sloping orange rectangle with green and red diamond border] / GREENPOINT. / N.Y."
Credit Line Gift of Jay and Emma Lewis
Location Visible Storage: Case 36, Shelf K (Ceramics)
Description White porcelain pitcher with polychrome and gilded decoration. Ovoid body bulges around middle, tapers at collar, and then flares out as it rises to wide spout; scalloped top rim. Opposing handle bifurcates into two branches at juncture with body. Large reserves on each side of body framed by molded edge; gilded inscription within reserve on one side, reserve on opposite side is blank. Area around top of pitcher above reserves is painted black, although much of the paint is now lost. Hand painted cat tail plants and stalks with yellow flowers frame reserves; some of the leaves wrap around top edge and continue on interior. Triangular form with Orientalizing geometric patterns in gold, purple, and orange between reserves below spout. Strap across top of spout (for catching ice cubes) painted with a crane wading in a naturalistic setting. Top edge ringed with gilt and orange band. Handle is glazed tan and decorated with gilded Chinese fretwork; bottom juncture decorated with blue, magenta, and orange geometric forms. Condition: Good; most of black glaze around collar is lost; some losses to gilding and scratches in paint.