This large soft paste pearlware ale mug was most likely made in Staffordshire, England in the late 1700s. Standing approximately 6 inches tall, with a 4 1/8 diameter, the mug is decorated in cobalt blue underglaze with the “Chinese House” pattern, a popular middle class replacement for similarly decorated Chinese porcelain, affordable only to the wealthy. The base of the mug is unmarked, but the pottery wheel rings and the pooling of blue tint glaze in the crevices are all indicative of early Pearlware.

During the 18th century, English potters standardized what has become known as the “Chinese house pattern.” Innumerable variants of this design exist, but its common thread is the formulaic layout of the pattern’s primary features: trees, fence, house or pagoda, fence, and more trees. The foreground almost always consists of shimmering water with assorted rocks and plants. Although the specific origin of the pattern is unknown, it appears to have been adapted from chinoiserie patterns painted on English porcelains of the 1750s and 1760s rather than directly from Chinese prototypes. These examples are almost never marked, generally have rococo blue shell-edged rims, and date from 1775 to 1800.

Provenance: deaccessioned from the Fine Art Museums of San Francisco. Museum inventory number painted on foot but is not permanent and can be removed.

The item(s) are antique and sold as is/as found. The item(s) may show wear, fading, scratches, repairs, restoration, original imperfections and/or damage from normal use. I note one chip to rim, one crack from rim and numerous chips to base as shown in photos. Also, there are chips to glaze on base, both interim’s exterior and crazing to glaze throughout as shown in photos. Examine photos carefully as they are part of the description. Imperfections were factored into pricing. No returns or refunds.

Items sold for $100 or more may be shipped with insurance and signature requirement. No responsibility for loss, theft or damage that occurs AFTER your purchase has been delivered to the address you have provided. Any damage to purchase must be reported immediately and photos provided of both the exterior of the box and the damaged item to facilitate the filing of a claim.