1831-1835

Vase

Tucker and Hemphill, Philadelphia

1826 - 1838

Wares made at the Philadelphia porcelain manufactory founded by William Ellis Tucker often feature local landscapes, people, or houses, as well as illustrations from popular literature. This scene depicts the manufactory, which was housed in the old waterworks. Smoke emits from the kilns at the right and pitchers can be seen drying on the fence on the left.

Like those made in Italian, German, and English porcelain manufactories, Tucker vases imitated ancient Greek two-handled vases. While the enamel painted decoration is finely executed, the sloppy, almost melted porcelain body is an identifying feature of Tucker’s manufactory. The tips of the squared base have curled upward and the handles have slumped inward, despite the brace that the modelers hoped would compensate for the failings of the material.

The quality of this vase would have been discarded by other manufactories, but it was saved—possibly by Thomas Tucker himself who was the primary decorator.