Very handsome small pearlware bowl from circa 1790 represents the creative and commercial peak of the Leeds Pottery, which operated under the partnership name Hartley, Greens & CoLeeds. During this late-Georgian timeframe, pearlware served as a highly desirable, affordable substitute for imported Chinese export porcelain. Developed to counter the warm yellowish tone of traditional creamware, pearlware achieved a whiter look by incorporating china clay into the body and adding a minuscule amount of cobalt to the lead glaze, giving it a distinctive bluish tint.
 
By 1779, following Josiah Wedgwood's marketing of "Pearl White", Leeds heavily shifted production to pearlware to meet consumer demand for a whiter palette. Because of its competitive pricing and durability, massive shipments of Leeds pearlware were exported to the United States and continental Europe between 1790 and 1840. By 1790, Leeds had mastered freehand painting and early transfer printing of Chinese-inspired "Chinoiserie" landscapes. These featured stylised pagodas, fences, and islands to closely mimic true porcelain.
 
PLanted with a favourite of this studio - Cambrian orchids - which flower for ages and will continue to grow in a bigger pot, flowering several times a year. 
 
We always enclose clear & detailed care instructions along with the provenance of the bowl and if this is a gift for someone special, we are happy to gift wrap.
 
H: 8cm
W: 16cm