An unusual and large Chinese blue and white reticulated food warmer. Qianlong

Of oval form, with a flat base, the bottom unglazed, and similar flat, with a reticulated top ; the front with a rectangular opening. It is decorated in underglaze blue with flowers sprays and bouquets in oval panels with a cockerel on the left, and a “Fitzhugh” border around the rim.

Related works

An identical warmer is in the collection of the Peabody Essex Museum (from Santos), and published by Bill Sargent in Treasures of Chinese Export Ceramics: From the Peabody Essex Museum, 2012, p. 148, no. 54.

Another warmer is in the collection of the Rijkmuseum (inv.No. AK-NM, 6665), published by C.J.A. Jorg and Jan Van Campden in Chinese Ceramics in the Collection of the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam: The Ming and Qing Dynasties, 2001, p. 265, no. 307.

Another warmer is in the collection of the Winterthur Museum (USA).

Notice

Sometimes referred to as a stove, this European form is found in metal wood and ceramics versions. A container of charcoal inserted through the openback would keep a dish warm when placed on the top. The finely pierced sides and top allowed air to circulate.

The origin of this form, examples of which have been found at Pompei dates to at least the earliest years of the first millenium CE.They were common in households in Tudor England, and in 1574 Queen Elizabeth I (1533-1603) had an elaborate gilded and chased silverexample intended”to keep the meat hot without fire”.

Althought, objects such as this are often associated with the nursery or sick-room, the elegant form and expensive execution of this warmer suggest it held a prominent place on a side table during a dinner.