Liverpool John/Jane Pennington dolphin ewer in the Chinese Lady with Bird c1785

Painted, in chinoiserie style, in the 'Chinese Lady with Bird' pattern, a rare lamprey-handled dolphin ewer. For a larger version of a piece of this shape, please see figure 326 of Nicholas Panes's "British Porcelain Sauceboats of the 18th Century". This is a John/Jane Pennington piece. John continued the James Pennington design. On close examination it can be seen that there is a pair of entwined dolphins beneath the lip of the piece, both of which rest upon a moulded scallop shell. The handle is in the form of a lamprey – a fish relied upon, by many Liverpudlians of that time, as a cheap source of protein. The similar Philip Christian and Seth Pennington versions of the creamer omit the entwined dolphins. In addition, the piece can, by virtue of the manner in which the cartouche surrounding the print is organised, be further differentiated from the very similar productions of Seth Pennington. The John Pennington version of the pattern has the trellis shapes at midday, three, six and nine, whereas the Seth version has the flower cartouche in those positions.

11cm wide.

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