Richard White
@rhwhite.bsky.social
NYC-based 18th-century porcelain and decorative art collector showing photos of the crazy stuff he's bought over the years. Runner, too.
Comparing two approaches to the same design: the "Flying Fox" pattern on a circa 1755 Chelsea dish (left) with a circa 1745 plate made at Meissen. You can see the differences in the paste too, the Meissen is much whiter. Of course, both factories are copying a Japanese design. (details in ALT)
November 20, 2025 at 10:17 PM
Comparing two approaches to the same design: the "Flying Fox" pattern on a circa 1755 Chelsea dish (left) with a circa 1745 plate made at Meissen. You can see the differences in the paste too, the Meissen is much whiter. Of course, both factories are copying a Japanese design. (details in ALT)
Two circa 1770 Sèvres biscuit porcelain figures, one of a seated young man presenting a lamb in a floral basket and a young woman cradling a basket of gathered flowers, both on rockwork-and-leaf bases. Fairly large, they place well on a dinner table setting or as part of a centerpiece. (see ALT)
November 19, 2025 at 12:53 PM
Two circa 1770 Sèvres biscuit porcelain figures, one of a seated young man presenting a lamb in a floral basket and a young woman cradling a basket of gathered flowers, both on rockwork-and-leaf bases. Fairly large, they place well on a dinner table setting or as part of a centerpiece. (see ALT)
A Sèvres-style porcelain three-sectioned salt cellar with painted flower sprays and a three-part handle with ribbon decoration in blue and a painted knop, manufactured by Mennecy/Bourg-la-Reine in the 1770s. Sometimes used for serving pepper, nutmeg and cinnamon to put on meat in the 18th century.
November 18, 2025 at 9:33 PM
A Sèvres-style porcelain three-sectioned salt cellar with painted flower sprays and a three-part handle with ribbon decoration in blue and a painted knop, manufactured by Mennecy/Bourg-la-Reine in the 1770s. Sometimes used for serving pepper, nutmeg and cinnamon to put on meat in the 18th century.
A Japanese porcelain (Edo Period, ca. 1720) decagonal dish painted in the kakiemon style with a pheasant seated in a prunus tree among banded hedges, facing another pheasant on the left. Along the edges are scattered chrysanthemums and a red and blue Japanese design within a feni-buchi rim.
November 17, 2025 at 10:45 PM
A Japanese porcelain (Edo Period, ca. 1720) decagonal dish painted in the kakiemon style with a pheasant seated in a prunus tree among banded hedges, facing another pheasant on the left. Along the edges are scattered chrysanthemums and a red and blue Japanese design within a feni-buchi rim.
Two 1789 Sèvres dinner plates each decorated with a central bouquet of roses encircled by a blue line with gilt S scrolls, and a frieze border of planted sprigs of leaves and flowers radiating outward. From the Boyd-Kerr Service, ordered for James Gordon of Moor Place, Hertfordshire. Lovely design.
November 16, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Two 1789 Sèvres dinner plates each decorated with a central bouquet of roses encircled by a blue line with gilt S scrolls, and a frieze border of planted sprigs of leaves and flowers radiating outward. From the Boyd-Kerr Service, ordered for James Gordon of Moor Place, Hertfordshire. Lovely design.
A pair of Saint-Cloud potpourris, circa 1735, thickly-molded white porcelain vases of ovoid shape with encrusted flower swags and matching reticulated covers. Designed as a gadrooned vase perched on a mound of rocks with vegetation. They're big and fit nicely on the mantel over the fireplace. (ALT)
November 14, 2025 at 11:32 AM
A pair of Saint-Cloud potpourris, circa 1735, thickly-molded white porcelain vases of ovoid shape with encrusted flower swags and matching reticulated covers. Designed as a gadrooned vase perched on a mound of rocks with vegetation. They're big and fit nicely on the mantel over the fireplace. (ALT)
A conical tea or coffee cup and saucer manufactured at the Vincennes or Sèvres factory circa 1755, painted with scattered flowers and parallel blue concentric lines (cerceaux, or ‘hoops’) and gilt dashes. Madame de Pompadour owned a tea set with several of these, they're somewhat rare.
November 11, 2025 at 10:13 PM
A conical tea or coffee cup and saucer manufactured at the Vincennes or Sèvres factory circa 1755, painted with scattered flowers and parallel blue concentric lines (cerceaux, or ‘hoops’) and gilt dashes. Madame de Pompadour owned a tea set with several of these, they're somewhat rare.
A Mennecy lobed oval porcelain sugar bowl with painted enamel flower sprays, the lid with a blue painted entwined branch handle and brown painted rim. Circa 1760, on the underside is the factory mark of an incised D.V. Usually with a matching oval stand, but nicely decorated.
November 10, 2025 at 12:03 PM
A Mennecy lobed oval porcelain sugar bowl with painted enamel flower sprays, the lid with a blue painted entwined branch handle and brown painted rim. Circa 1760, on the underside is the factory mark of an incised D.V. Usually with a matching oval stand, but nicely decorated.
A circa 1740 Meissen lobed porcelain bowl decorated with two banded hedges on two sides and scattered groups of painted and gilt flowers, all in the Kakeimon style, and with a brown line along the scalloped rim. A typical Japanese motif of the time, seen on Meissen and Chantilly wares.
November 9, 2025 at 7:59 PM
A circa 1740 Meissen lobed porcelain bowl decorated with two banded hedges on two sides and scattered groups of painted and gilt flowers, all in the Kakeimon style, and with a brown line along the scalloped rim. A typical Japanese motif of the time, seen on Meissen and Chantilly wares.
This is an old terracotta figure of a putto holding a bird with two rabbits by his side. It's "signed" by Boizot on the base but it's possibly a later copy. I can find no example of a Boucher painting or any etching picturing this fellow, so if anyone out there has seen him before, let me know.
November 5, 2025 at 7:45 PM
This is an old terracotta figure of a putto holding a bird with two rabbits by his side. It's "signed" by Boizot on the base but it's possibly a later copy. I can find no example of a Boucher painting or any etching picturing this fellow, so if anyone out there has seen him before, let me know.
Saw this small dish at the Georgia Museum of Art last weekend, it's a (tea)cup plate. Popular in England during the first half of the 19th century and in the U.S., with glass versions in the early 20th. It was a coaster for your teacup while you cooled and drank your beverage out of the saucer.
November 2, 2025 at 12:23 PM
Saw this small dish at the Georgia Museum of Art last weekend, it's a (tea)cup plate. Popular in England during the first half of the 19th century and in the U.S., with glass versions in the early 20th. It was a coaster for your teacup while you cooled and drank your beverage out of the saucer.
Halloween costume from long ago. Ghouls just want to have fun.
October 31, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Halloween costume from long ago. Ghouls just want to have fun.
A circa 1745 Chantilly porcelain wine bottle cooler (seau à bouteille) lobed and decorated with a multi-flower plant on two sides, the twig handles with small encrusted flowers. The painting inspired by Meissen decoration, a short and sweet container for a half bottle of wine.
October 30, 2025 at 10:36 AM
A circa 1745 Chantilly porcelain wine bottle cooler (seau à bouteille) lobed and decorated with a multi-flower plant on two sides, the twig handles with small encrusted flowers. The painting inspired by Meissen decoration, a short and sweet container for a half bottle of wine.
Visiting the studio of ceramicist/sculptor Sunkoo Yuh at the University of Georgia last Saturday on a field trip with the American Ceramics Circle. That tall sculpture he's standing next to comes in two pieces with two sculpted slots at the base so they may be transported by forklift! Amazing.
October 28, 2025 at 11:24 PM
Visiting the studio of ceramicist/sculptor Sunkoo Yuh at the University of Georgia last Saturday on a field trip with the American Ceramics Circle. That tall sculpture he's standing next to comes in two pieces with two sculpted slots at the base so they may be transported by forklift! Amazing.
At the Georgia Porcelain and Decorative Arts Museum at the State Botanical Gardens in Athens, GA with the American Ceramics Circle, yesterday. Delighted to see so much European porcelain. ‘Roam if you want to’ among the displays.
October 26, 2025 at 9:16 PM
At the Georgia Porcelain and Decorative Arts Museum at the State Botanical Gardens in Athens, GA with the American Ceramics Circle, yesterday. Delighted to see so much European porcelain. ‘Roam if you want to’ among the displays.
A fine day at the High Museum in Atlanta yesterday with the American Ceramics Circle. Great lectures and a lovely afternoon with the collection.
October 25, 2025 at 12:42 PM
A fine day at the High Museum in Atlanta yesterday with the American Ceramics Circle. Great lectures and a lovely afternoon with the collection.
A fine afternoon visiting the Swan House in Atlanta, with the American Ceramics Circle. Amazing Chinese export and a little bit of everything else, too.
October 24, 2025 at 12:27 AM
A fine afternoon visiting the Swan House in Atlanta, with the American Ceramics Circle. Amazing Chinese export and a little bit of everything else, too.
A circa 1756 Sèvres tea cup and saucer, each painted with camaïeu pourpre depictions of putti on clouds and with flying birds on the cup. And I was lucky enough to find the sources: mid-century etchings inspired by Boucher, copies now at The Metropolitan Museum of Art (see ALT).
October 22, 2025 at 10:15 AM
A circa 1756 Sèvres tea cup and saucer, each painted with camaïeu pourpre depictions of putti on clouds and with flying birds on the cup. And I was lucky enough to find the sources: mid-century etchings inspired by Boucher, copies now at The Metropolitan Museum of Art (see ALT).
Two circa 1800 Chinese Export porcelain lobed dishes gilt and painted in the Sèvres style with latticework surrounding floral designs in reserves in the center of each. Both with a gilt monogram MCL in a rectangular reserve near the top rim. The dishes are thick and heavy, the decoration excellent.
October 19, 2025 at 12:52 PM
Two circa 1800 Chinese Export porcelain lobed dishes gilt and painted in the Sèvres style with latticework surrounding floral designs in reserves in the center of each. Both with a gilt monogram MCL in a rectangular reserve near the top rim. The dishes are thick and heavy, the decoration excellent.
Happy Birthday to Augustus III, Elector of Saxony and King of Poland, born on this date in 1696. Inherited the Meissen porcelain factory from his father. And the grandfather of three kings of France, no less. Here's also a large plate from one of his dinner services, with inventory mark. (see ALT)
October 17, 2025 at 12:36 PM
Happy Birthday to Augustus III, Elector of Saxony and King of Poland, born on this date in 1696. Inherited the Meissen porcelain factory from his father. And the grandfather of three kings of France, no less. Here's also a large plate from one of his dinner services, with inventory mark. (see ALT)
An assembled set of Sèvres porcelain salad bowls, with a raised gilt and blue ‘cabbage leaf’ (feuille de choux) design along the exterior and interior, and decorated with floral sprays on the interior. With date marks for 1756-64. For serving a large salad for the table, not the usual 'side' bowl.
October 17, 2025 at 9:49 AM
An assembled set of Sèvres porcelain salad bowls, with a raised gilt and blue ‘cabbage leaf’ (feuille de choux) design along the exterior and interior, and decorated with floral sprays on the interior. With date marks for 1756-64. For serving a large salad for the table, not the usual 'side' bowl.
A 19th century baluster-shaped molded porcelain ewer with scrolling and feathered gilt decoration on a lobed pedestal base, the handle with gilt raised strap work; possibly Samson, or Minton, in the style of the Sèvres factory’s "pot à l’eau à la romaine". Nicely gilt, even if it is a copy.
October 16, 2025 at 4:26 PM
A 19th century baluster-shaped molded porcelain ewer with scrolling and feathered gilt decoration on a lobed pedestal base, the handle with gilt raised strap work; possibly Samson, or Minton, in the style of the Sèvres factory’s "pot à l’eau à la romaine". Nicely gilt, even if it is a copy.
A molded soft-paste porcelain sugar bowl with underglaze blue lambrequin decoration above molded gadroons and a lid with similar lambrequins along the edge and a blue-painted knop.
Saint-Cloud, first quarter of the 18th century. Fairly simple with fine decoration, inspired by a silver form. (ALT)
Saint-Cloud, first quarter of the 18th century. Fairly simple with fine decoration, inspired by a silver form. (ALT)
October 14, 2025 at 7:23 PM
A molded soft-paste porcelain sugar bowl with underglaze blue lambrequin decoration above molded gadroons and a lid with similar lambrequins along the edge and a blue-painted knop.
Saint-Cloud, first quarter of the 18th century. Fairly simple with fine decoration, inspired by a silver form. (ALT)
Saint-Cloud, first quarter of the 18th century. Fairly simple with fine decoration, inspired by a silver form. (ALT)
A 1795 Sèvres porcelain plate (assiette unie) decorated with a bouquet of flowers in the well and three gilt oval reserves along the border on a bleu céleste ground, the rims with gilt lines surrounding a gilt foliate motif. Decorated by Laroche and Girard; a fine bouquet in the center. (see ALT)
October 12, 2025 at 10:44 AM
A 1795 Sèvres porcelain plate (assiette unie) decorated with a bouquet of flowers in the well and three gilt oval reserves along the border on a bleu céleste ground, the rims with gilt lines surrounding a gilt foliate motif. Decorated by Laroche and Girard; a fine bouquet in the center. (see ALT)