New Hall Trench Mortar Pattern Saucer

An English blue and white porcelain saucer made by New Hall in their specially devised "hybrid hard paste".

New Hall were innovators, in terms of the porcelain body and the forms they made and decoration applied.  They established themselves as one of the leading porcelain manufacturing companies for tablewares at the end of the eighteenth century until they closed in 1835.  

This is a well known and very popular pattern.  A nice clean print in a good strong blue, this saucer is a good example and in very nice condition.  

The pattern depicts a thatched building between trees next to a bridge.  In front are rock formations, inspired by the 18th century Chinese export porcelain patterns.

The nickname "Trench Mortar" derives from the pipes jutting from the ground in front of the thatched farmhouse. They reminded British collectors of mortars that fired shells into enemy trenches during World War I.

We can only assume that the New Hall artists misinterpreted stylised representations of traditional Chinese roof tiles that one finds on some Chinese export blue-and-white ware of the period.

The decoration is transfer-printed in underglaze blue.  This version has a brown dressing along the edge inspired by the Kangxi period Chinese import wares.  Most versions seem to have a gilded edge,and sometimes a gilded band on the inside of the border.  


Makers marks:
None

Dimensions:
158 mm diameter

Weight:
196 g

Age:
225

Condition:
Very good. No chips cracks or restoration. 

Maker:
New Hall