This highly collectible antique Dr. Wall First Period Worcester porcelain salad or junket bowl dates to shortly after the 1751 founding of English porcelain manufactory, Worcester. Worcester traces its origins to the efforts of well regarded physician and self-trained painter Dr. John Wall and his associate, William Davis. Wall and Davis developed an innovative porcelain formula which was durable yet able to be molded in fine, thin-walled forms. Wall marketed the formula to several other Worcester based businessmen and together the group of investors established a manufacturing facility to produce porcelain on a larger scale. The efforts of the Worcester manufactory proved very successful and the fledgling company went on to make a variety of pieces which proved popular with consumers. In keeping with mid-18th century customer demand for Asian style porcelain, early pieces were often decorated in underglaze cobalt blue.

This First Period Worcester porcelain serving piece has been made in the form of a large shallow salad or junket bowl with a shaped scalloped rim. The interior of the bowl has been finished with three large molded cartouches resembling scallop shells along with a large lobed floriform cartouche at the center. The bowl has been decorated in Worcester's pinecone pattern consisting of floral sprays and fruits on a white ground. The exterior is decorated with groupings of oversize vegetables along with butterflies and a snail.

The bowl is in excellent antique condition with no damage or restoration. It should be noted that there are production related anomalies present which are commonly found in ceramics of this era including fritting at the rim. In addition, there are pinpoint sized glaze pops on the interior and exterior as well as flecks of material caught in the glaze itself. The issues do not detract from the appearance of the piece and are mentioned for accuracy. As seen in photo 5, the base of the bowl bears the cross-hatched crescent mark.

The bowl measures 10" from the opposite sides of the rims and stands 3" at its tallest point. The piece weighs in at 1lb 6oz.

This rare mid-18th century porcelain bowl would be a wonderful addition to a collection of Dr. Wall pieces, or to an assembly of early English porcelain. A fine example of First Period Worcester.