Images(5)

Peacock pheasant

Date1750-1752

Artist/Maker Chelsea Porcelain Manufactory (1745-1769)

OriginEngland, London

MediumPorcelain, soft-paste

DimensionsOH: 7 3/4"; Base: 2 5/8" X 2 1/2"

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1955-339

DescriptionBird perched on stump. Head turned sharply to left; orange-red comb; yellow beak tipped with brown; blue head shading to white on shoulders and breast; white wings with blue and green stripe and with feathers outlined in purple; speckled purple back; long tail shading from purple to yellow the feathers marked with "eyes"; pink legs striped with brown. White stump with green leaves.

Raised anchor period.
Label TextThis bird is illustrated in George Edwards, A Natural History of Uncommon Birds, where it is called "the PEACOCK PHEASANT from China." The enamel painting on this example does not follow its print source exactly, but at least one other copy from the same mold is decorated very much like the source.
InscribedNo
MarkingsOn base under tail: an anchor raised in relief and painted red in an applied oval medallion
ProvenanceSigmund Katz Collection, New Orleans
James Lewis & Son, Inc., New York