© Victoria and Albert Museum, London

Source Description:

This print from Edwards and Darley's A New Book of Chinese Designs (1754) was closely copied for the pattern on the Bow dish.

Description:

This Bow porcelain dish is printed with a brown outline print that has then been filled in with enamel colors.  A number of designs at Bow were based on printed outlines that were intended then to be painted to complete the pattern.

The central design on this dish is known as Two Chinese Women Choosing Accessories.  The rim is printed with two scenes of Chinese figures (one of these is known as the main design on a Bow teapot) and two groupings  of domestic and precious objects.

The central design on this dish is taken from a pattern book of 1754 by Edwards and Darley.  A copy of this book, together with three other books of designs suitable for use on porcelain, is recorded as being in the possession of John Bowcock, the business manager at Bow.