Seal
1750/70
Medium
Soft-paste porcelain, polychrome enamels and gilding; hardstone and metal mount
Dimensions
H.: 2.3 cm (1 3/16 in.)
Classification
porcelain
Department
Applied Arts of Europe
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
45098
Art Historical Context
This exquisite seal, produced by the Chelsea Porcelain between 1750 and 1770, captures the elegance of mid-18th-century British porcelain artistry. Standing a mere 2.3 cm tall, it is crafted from soft-paste porcelain—a innovative English substitute for the coveted hard-paste porcelain from China—vibrantly decorated with polychrome enamels gilding. The addition of a hardstone int and metal mount transforms it into a functional desk accessory, blending utility with opulent detail. Chelsea, one of Britain's earliest porcelain factoriesestablished around 1743), rivaled continental makers like Mei...