FRUITS AS A SUBJECT FOR HAND-PAINTING ON CHINA

Fruits as a subject for hand-painting on bone china and porcelain has been very vogue for over two hundred years.

ROYAL STAFFORD, BERRIES, BONE CHINA

HUTSCHENREUTHER, GRAPES, PORCELAIN

The Europeans, especially the English, French and Germans have worshiped nature's beauty by depicting fruits and flowers on fine china regardless of shape or form. The cup & saucer seems to have been a choice form upon which to execute the delicate and zestful accent of mother nature. After all the cup & saucer, as an item produced by many factories, was a smaller item and a  much more affordable way to exhibit to the world the great artistry of their painters. By hand-painting cups & saucers, the various factories were able to spread their delights to a wider marketplace at a more affordable price at time of production. Of course bigger forms were more elaborate prices which not everyone could afford. Factories had also to build a reputation with the masses who now were becoming more affluent and were becoming a more integral part of the marketplace. What a great way to attract more buyers, gain a reputation plus more income than to create small pieces of art, namely the cup & saucer, with fluffy decoration that looked great in the china or curio cabinet.