1414 Antique Chinese Blue and White 18th c Plate with ca 1800 English Regency / George the IV 19th c redecoration

Description:

1414 Antique Chinese Blue and White 18th c Plate with ca 1800 English Regency / George the IV 19th c redecoration

Period:1700-1750 & Redecoration 1800-1820
Code:50
Provenance:Provenance: Doyle Sep 27, 2024 11:00  Boston Collects, Lot 1083  Six Chinese Porcelain Table Items
18th and 19th centuries Estate / Collection: Property of a Jamestown, Rhode Island Collector

Often seen as ugly and black sheep of the porcelain world. British 1810-1820 Clobbered wares deserve better as they are historically very interesting. So lets call them George the IV or Regency Taste redecorated porcelain. And leave the clobbered behind us as it does no justice to what they are at all. Its not that because we live in a time were these super funky colours are out of taste that we should hate on these pieces.

A short history!

During the early 19th century, the Prince Regent (later King George IV) played a key role in cultivating a taste for the exotic Orient among the British elite, influencing interior design during the Regency era. His lavish projects, such as the Royal Pavilion in Brighton, epitomized this fascination. The Pavilion, with its blend of Indian, Chinese, and Gothic elements, became a symbol of the Prince’s extravagant taste. The interiors featured Chinese wallpaper, Indian textiles, and oriental furniture, reflecting the era’s growing interest in Chinoiserie and other oriental-inspired designs.

This trend extended to the decorative arts, where clobbered Chinese porcelain—originally blue-and-white pieces—was reimagined with bright reds, golds, greens, and dragons to cater to the new European tastes. These colorful repainted pieces symbolized wealth, sophistication, and an affinity for the exotic, perfectly complementing the bold and opulent interiors of the time. The dragon, a powerful symbol in Chinese culture, was a recurring motif in these porcelain pieces, further aligning with the Regency’s romanticized view of the Orient. George IV’s penchant for luxury, eccentricity, and vibrant decoration influenced the wider aristocratic society, and clobbered porcelain became a prized addition to the Regency elite’s homes.

This fusion of European and oriental aesthetics reflected the period’s blend of cultural influences, making it a defining feature of Regency interior style.