Casgliadau Arlein

Rectangular dessert dish, soft-paste porcelain, 'duck egg' type with a green translucency, and grey-green tinge to the glaze, some pitting to the underside; standing on a narrow foot rim, shallow sides spreading to a shaped rim with indented corners, twig handles with foliate terminals; the centre painted with an oval gilt band with a sunny Levantine harbour scene, comprising a rocky foreshore with a turbaned fisherman with rod and basket to left, two standing bearded merchants, both in striped trousers, and turbans, overlooking two further turbaned figures carrying crates, with barrels and the masts of a moored ship behind to right, shipping in the distance; elaborate gilt border beyond a baluster line, comprising alternating scrolled panels of oiel de perdrix, lattice and seeding, the handles gilt and the terminals veined with gold.