Mizuya-Dansu – Keyaki – Red lacquered – Ere Taisho

Extremely rare small pitcher from the prestigious service of the Duke of Orléans in soft-paste porcelain from Tournai

This extremely rare small jug from the prestigious Duke of Orléans service, made of Tournai soft-paste porcelain, has an elegant, bulbous body resting on a slight foot, extending into a flared neck with a pinched spout and a tall handle with a refined upper attachment, highlighted by a gold band. The decoration, concentrated on the shoulder, is created in reserve against a deep, intense blue ground, enhanced by rich, finely chased gilding. This blue ground, characteristic of luxury pieces, is enlivened with scrolls, garlands, and stylized motifs of neoclassical inspiration. Reserved cartouches display a delicately painted naturalistic scene: a bird perched on a leafy branch, rendered with remarkable precision of observation, accompanied by vegetal elements and a small entomological motif. The handwritten inscription on the reverse, "The Carolina Redwing," identifies the species depicted, reflecting the late 18th-century taste for naturalist subjects inspired by Buffon's illustrations. The handle is decorated with a pretty dotted pattern in gold. The set included five different sizes of jugs.