Barr, Flight & Barr Period Tea Slop Bowl with Caduceus and Peace Symbols c.1810

This is a charming and highly unusual slop bowl produced during the Barr, Flight & Barr period of the Worcester Porcelain Works.

The capacious bowl is very simple in form, stepping in about two-thirds of the way down the bowl. The bowl then sits on a galleried foot.

The bowl is glazed in white and transfer-printed with four symbols: a caduceus, a dove of peace, a cornucopia, and an olive branch. The caduceus is a symbol of commerce, but could also be construed as a symbol of health and healing, the dove and olive branch are well-known symbols of peace, and the cornucopia (or Horn of Plenty) is a symbol of abundance.

The caduceus is not to be confused with the Rod of Asclepius, which is a traditional symbol of medicine and healing. The caduceus originally had a non-medical meaning, but over time was (intentionally and unintentionally) used as a symbol of healing (likely confused with the Rod of Asclepius). A good example of this is when Josiah Flagg, Surgeon Dentist, used the symbol in an advertisement he published in Boston in 1796.

The underside of the bowl is impressed with the crown symbol surmounting the letters ‘BFB’. This is the standard impressed mark found on all wares produced under Barr, Flight & Barr between 1807 and 1813.

It has a height of approximately 7.7cm, with a diameter across the rim of about 17.0cm and across the foot of about 8.2cm.

It has an unwrapped weight of 410g.

It is in very good condition, with no chips or cracks. The piece has been well used, and therefore, the glaze on the rim and the interior is finely scratched all over. This wear is noticeable on close inspection but does not detract from such an unusual piece.