This beautiful early 19th-century Wedgwood pearlware centerpiece is paired with its original matching tray.
Both pieces are hand-painted in a vivid Imari-style palette of cobalt blue, iron red, soft green, and gilt highlights.
The ground is painted a pale terracotta color, delicately patterned with rows of tiny beige circles, creating a textured and visually rich backdrop for the floral and foliate designs.
The footed compote features twin gilt handles and rests on a broad pedestal base, and the tray is decorated to match, offering a unified and elegant presentation.
This form is also referred to as a compote or fruit stand. It was popular in English ceramics during the Regency and early Victorian eras.
The set bears an impressed “WEDGWOOD” mark and was made circa 1820.
Dimensions: Compote 11.5″ x 7″ x 6″ tall; Tray 11.75″ x 8.25″
Condition: Excellent
Price: $480
– Two-piece Wedgwood pearlware set: footed centerpiece with matching tray
– Hand-painted in the Imari palette: cobalt blue, iron red, green, and gilt
– Pale terracotta ground with rows of tiny beige circles
– Stylized floral and foliate decoration throughout
– Gilt highlights and twin side handles on the compote
– Impressed “WEDGWOOD” mark on both pieces
– Made in England circa 1820
Background of Pearlware:
Pearlware was first created in the mid-18th century and first became popular around 1780.
It is distinct from creamware due to its blue-tinged glaze, which is produced by using cobalt to whiten the glaze of the creamware.
Josiah Wedgwood developed and popularized pearlware to provide an alternative to Chinese porcelain, which is whiter than Wedgwood’s creamware.