Cream soft-paste porcelain scent bottle with two hand painted fantastic birds and gilt friezes, convincingly attributed to James Giles (London (1718-1780)). He was a decorator of Worcester, Derby, Bow and Chelsea porcelain and also of glass. Giles bought semi-decorated or ‘whites’ from various factories and glazed them in his own workshop. His trademark was exotic birds with a decidedly dishevelled appearance. Identification of Giles’ work is hampered by the absence of signatures or marks.
Period
18th century
England, 1750 ca
porcelain
8 cm
COD.
656
James Giles of London (1718-1780) The decoration of this exquisite scent flask is attributed convincingly to James Giles who had a decorating shop in Camden Town and retail premises in Cockspur Street, Soho. Porcelain (and glass) collectors had been puzzled as to how disparate pieces from Chelsea/ Derby/ Worcester/ Bristol glass etc. appeared to have decoration from the same hand or workshop. The answer is that Giles bought semi-decorated or ‘white’ from the various factories and enamelled them in his workshop. Experts conclude that Giles’ decoration is freer than that done in the factories and his trademark is exotic birds of a distinctly dishevelled appearance.
