Rare Georgian Swansea Pearlware Botanical Sauce Tureen c.1810

A superb Swansea pearlware sauce or cream tureen, finely painted in enamels with botanical specimens in the style of Thomas Pardoe, inspired by the botanical prints engraved by William Curtis in the 18th century. The base has "Venus's Looking Glass" on one side and "Purple Headed Garlick" on the other. The cover has "Tree Flax" and "Peruvian Turn Sole". Shaped side handles and scrolled knop to the cover, all picked out in brown enamel along with the rims. The specimens are named on the underside of both pieces in red script. c.1810.

Provenance: Sotheby's "The Glory Of The Garden" exhibition, a loan exhibition held in association with The Royal Horticultural Society, held between 2 and 28 January 1987, exhibit number 111/2.

It measures 19cm (7 1/2") long, 10.8cm (4 1/4") wide and 14.2cm (5 5/8") high with cover on (8.2cm (3 1/4") height of tureen alone).

Condition is excellent with a few small chips to the vertical flange inside the cover and a couple of fleabites to the underside of the rim of the base. Some light crazing to the shoulders of the tureen. Minimal handling wear, the enamel is in excellent condition, just some expected light wear to the knop.