Tuesday, July 13, 2021

A Chinoiserie Powder Room & Help Solve a Chinoiserie Mystery

Brunschwig & Fils - Xian

Xian by Brunschwig & Fils is a favorite chinoiserie wallpaper and fabric of mine. The detail is wonderful. It's especially great if you want to jazz up a cold and sterile white bathroom or powder room. Imagine the space above without it. 

I have it in a different colorway on my breakfast barstools. There are two sleeping pups in the background.


CCC

CCC

I would love help with solving this CCC mystery. In my Alexandria, Virginia home, I had a pair of blue and white Chinese "objets" that I loved. They were like large containers or jars with a "colander" type top pictured above. The bottom piece was about 12" high and circular with handles and a circumference of about 12." Sitting on the top was this lid or bowl which as you can see has a larger hole in the center surrounded by smaller holes - 8 of them. 

I had them in my garden for years. One day, with no advance warning, we had an insane weather event called a derecho that toppled them and broke both bases and one top. A derecho is an intense wind event with hurricane force winds. 

I have kept this top for years trying to find and replace them. But I have zip idea what they are called. It's hard to search for something without a name. I am guessing that they could be food or drink related - I searched under rice, tea, I have come up with nothing. I think I have ruled out pickling or fermenting because of the holes, right?

CCC - a close up

This is not a cautionary tale - I have had blue and white Chinese porcelain in my gardens for decades. This was just a freak weather event. Many people had trees on top of their homes and cars, so we were very fortunate.

I know this is a long shot, but I am hopeful someone will have an idea of what they are. They were such unique pieces and I would love to find them again. In Florida with indoor/outdoor living, my outside space is as important to me as indoors and these would look great. Any ideas are most welcome. For long time followers of CC, they are not golf ball containers. #sandbagger


40 comments:

  1. The object appears Italian to me, by looking at the shape of the buildings, and foliage.

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    Replies
    1. Could be the fascination with Italian ruins, etc during that period in England....too bad for the hairline cracks, too....

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    2. Yes, English chinoiserie often depicted Italian motifs.

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  2. It's some sort of strainer. I'll continue to search to narrow down the precise kind of strainer. Meanwhile here's a picture of a somewhat different strainer, but the basic idea is the same. A center hole surrounded by smaller holes.
    https://www.xupes.com/art/product-details/8113/antique-chinese-qianlong-blue-and-white-strainer-18th-c/antique-chinese-qianlong-blue-and-white-strainer-18th-c.html

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    Replies
    1. Thanks. With that center hole, you need to be straining something large like meat, not small like tea leaves. Very interesting.

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  3. Here's a wild ass guess. A butter churn? Maybe a wooden dowel to agitate the milk went through the center hole and the small holes allowed the splashed milk/buttermilk to drain back down into the lower container while one churned.

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  4. Oops, forgot to include this butter strainer picture.
    https://www.ebay.com/itm/293817818937?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-117182-37290-0&mkcid=2&itemid=293817818937&targetid=1263104805526&device=c&mktype=pla&googleloc=9052073&poi=&campaignid=13822858258&mkgroupid=119729921250&rlsatarget=pla-1263104805526&abcId=9300604&merchantid=6341354&gclid=CjwKCAjw87SHBhBiEiwAukSeUdphFWOHM6IfO46QrXrXcyDDrlhgVz3N7NXb-lyIQl50OBbp7yly2hoCoOQQAvD_BwE

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  5. Last one!

    http://explore-art.pem.org/object/asian-export-art/E84029_2AB/detail

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  6. I think they are slop pot (commode) strainers.

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    Replies
    1. You got it. Thank you. I even found my exact one searching these terms. You are wonderful!

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  7. I have seen blue and white meat strainers with similar holes but normally they are blue and white platters and not a bowl. I hope someone comes up with the right answer!

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  8. Love the fabric on the stools. Pretty and colorful!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks - and they are plasticized and have lasted forever.

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  9. It almost reminds me of some flower frogs I have with a big center hole and lots of little holes around it, though the bowl shape does not seem to be right. Flower frogs/bricks are usually flat on top.

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  10. I'm finding meat strainer/platter too.

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  11. I think they may be porcelain tea strainers.

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  12. Another possibility, which would account for the raised bed: antique chamber pots. See https://www.pinterest.com/pin/119345458845913213/

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    Replies
    1. That's it. Thank you. More details on tomorrow's post.

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  13. The Chinese always collected "night soil" to give to the night soil collectors so they would need to strain waste.

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  14. What's on the reverse side? Any decorations or markings or just plain white?

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    Replies
    1. No, the marking was on the broken bottom that I threw out.

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  15. Could it have been the top of a fountain?

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  16. It looked like a fountain bowl to me. The pump hose is secured in the center and the holes allow a nice exit into a pool.

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  17. Maybe ask this lady: https://www.etsy.com/market/bowl_with_holes

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  18. What a shame. They are lovely. I'm so sorry that happened. Can you take it to an antique dealer in your area, or someone who specializes in old porcelain and china and ask them?

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    Replies
    1. Thanks - you will find tomorrow's update interesting.

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  19. I think they are English transferware. They are possibly fruit coolers or ice pales.

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    Replies
    1. You are on the right track with English. Read tomorrow's post. Thank you.

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  20. I think I have found your object at "Worthpoint". Please see: https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/vintage-victoria-ware-ironstone-blue-700505627

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    Replies
    1. Yes, I think you've found it, interesting, it's a slop bucket... or bedside potty!

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    2. That's it! Kudos for good detective work!

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    3. Yes, that's it. I found that and others once I had the search terms. Read tomorrow's post - it gets even more interesting and thank you.

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