Casgliadau Arlein

Tray, hard-paste porcelain, irregular octagonal forn with inset base and flaring sides, to the centre of the well rises an elaborate fitment comprising a square plinth on which stands on four claw feet a roughly cylindrical column with half way up a round bowl with reeded underside, to the top of the column are two moulded human faces in relief, around the sides of the plinth and the top of the column are raised moulded swags, the fitment secured by a brass rod which terminates in a brass top to the column; the interior of the tray and the fitment covered with a blue ground over which has been painted an elaborate gilt decoration creating a mesh-like pattern with blue dots showing through, the raised moulded areas painted gilt apart from the moulded swags which have been painted a very pale blue-yellow colour, to the well of the tray are reserved four white round panels painted in polychrome enamels with groups of fruit, the panels enclosed by borders of stylized flower heads in gilt, two further panels painted with fruit are reserved to the interior of the bowl on the central column, a border of Greek key-shapes in gilt around the interior sides of the tray, the exterior sides of the tray painted in gilt with a running foliate border and scattered floral sprigs, a gilt band around the foot-rim. The central column chipped in places.