Cream pot

The milk jug is complete and oval in shape. The wall is slightly flared at the top, the junction between the wall and the shoulder is swollen and the neck is slightly constricted; it is topped by a rim that is lower on its sides but rises to the back, and to the straight top. The rim has an oval-shaped spout at the front, in line with the rim. The wall is swollen at the base and the pot rests on a foot with a wide, flat base. The base is recessed and flat. The pot is fitted with a vertical ear-shaped handle, with a massive, rectangular, curved protrusion at the top. Its upper end is folded down and slightly curved to join the outer face of the rim, while its lower end is rounded. The lower end is elongated and slightly concave, resting on the wall and ending in a curl. The cross-section is oval. A mold line runs through the middle of the pot’s outer surface, in the direction of its height; the decoration is molded, painted on the glaze and applied by underglaze printing (Transfer printed); the painted decoration is gold and the printed decoration is blue and oriental (Two Temples). Moulded decoration is visible on the outer wall and shoulder: it consists of small vertical flutes. In addition, the wall is slightly recessed in relation to the shoulder and base, both of which have a horizontal bulge. Printed decoration is visible under the inner rim and on the outer wall. The decoration under the inner rim consists of a complex frieze of five different motifs, some of which are repeated in alternation. Under the rim is a braid made of a row of small pearls in reserve, with a core. This is followed by a band composed of two alternating motifs, separated by a solid band in dark blue adorned with a half-flower and two scrolls in reserve; it is bordered at its base by a latticework with central crosses and itself bordered by a scroll. One of the main motifs is a latticework with central crosses; it is bordered by an acanthus leaf and features a central Chinese motif, the full Ju-i with a small core in reserve. This lattice supports two mirrored Greciques, bordered by a scroll of pearls and a cluster of pearls. The other design features a hexagonal diamond background with a core bordered by a dark-blue volute, cut at the edge into two half-flowers to accommodate a butterfly with outstretched wings. The butterfly is encircled by two areas with a fish-scale motif and closed by scrolls. The decoration on the outer wall consists of an oriental scene of islands, two of which are linked by a bridge spanning a river. On one of the islands stand two tiered temples with dark blue roofs, each with an entrance and staircase; in one stands a figure. These temples are surrounded by trees, and tiered rocks lie on the shore. In front of the temples is a checkerboard fence. At the rear of the temples is a wall with three sections intersecting at right angles; one section has two closed rectangular windows, while the other has a long closed rectangular window. The island borders a river to the left, spanned by a single-arched stone bridge, seen in profile, on which two bald figures stand, following one another. Behind the bridge, the temple island is enclosed by a fence with angled compartments and a post; the compartments are decorated with a central rectangle. The bridge leads to another island lined with rocks and trees, including a willow tree. In the foreground, a fence crosses the river; the compartments are lined up and decorated with swastikas. The rest of the wall is occupied by an island with pavilions, a tiered pagoda, trees and rocks. There is a single-arch bridge on this island. Around the cove, the wall is decorated with solid elements resembling waves. The decoration printed on the cove is a double vertical row of mirror-split leaves. The frieze junction below the inner rim is barely visible. The decoration on the wall is a montage: the junction is obvious. The printed decoration on the handle is covered with gilding in the form of stylized elongated leaves. The ends of the handle are covered with superimposed triangular horizontal lines. There is gilding on the rim, faded at the front of the spout, and on the bulge at the base of the wall.