Caster (Saupoudreuse)

c. 1732–38

manufacturer

Saint Cloud Porcelain Factory

(French)

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Culture

France, Saint Cloud, 18th century

Medium

soft-paste porcelain, silver mount

Measurements

Overall: 21.9 cm (8 5/8 in.)

Credit Line

Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund 1947.177

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Location

216A French and German

Did You Know?

Prunus branches, which refer to flowering trees and shrubs including plums, cherries, peaches, nectarines, apricots, and almonds, were a common motif in Chinese porcelain.

Description

This cylindrical caster with a removable pierced cover may have held sugar. It likely derives its form from silver casters manufactured pre-1700. Its all-white, molded, prunus branch decorations are characteristic of blanc de chine, the term used in France to reference the highly prized porcelain produced in the southeastern Fujian province of Dehua, China, known for its pure color and high degree of translucence.