Mermaid centrepiece
Doccia
Category
Ceramics
Date
1750 - 1760
Materials
Porcelain
Measurements
24.5 cm (Height); 22 cm (Diameter)
Place of origin
Italy
Order this imageCollection
Ickworth, Suffolk
NT 848701
Caption
In April 1868, Frederick William Hervey, 3rd Marquess of Bristol purchased what he believed to be thirteen pieces of Capo di Monte porcelain from an antique dealer in Florence. However, what he received was not Capo di Monte but instead one of the most important groups of Doccia porcelain in Britain. The underlying theme of this collection is the sea: winged sea harpies carry scallop shaped dishes and sea monsters hold up candlesticks.
Summary
Sweetmeat centrepiece. Doccia. c.1750-60. Winged mermaid at centre, arms raised in support. Scallop shell on either side surmounting reclined winged figure with fish tail and lion-type forelegs. Shell in red, base washed in patches of green, puce, brown, wings streaked in many colours.
Provenance
Part of the Bristol Collection. Acquired by the National Trust in 1956 under the auspices of the National Land Fund, later the National Heritage Memorial Fund
Makers and roles
Doccia , porcelain manufacturer
Exhibition history
The Prince's Fragile Treasures. the Paths of Porcelain Between Vienna and Florence, Palazzo Pitti, Florence, 2018 - 2019