English (Lambeth) Barber's Bowl About 1690 Tin-glazed earthenware 3-1/2 inches high, 10-1/4 inches in diameter Gift of Mr. and Mrs. George R. Steiner 96.36.6

As a reminder of the bowl's practical nature, the center is ornamented with the tools of the barber's trade. This MOTIF includes a pair of scissors, a straight-edged razor (partially open), a crested mirror, two small balls of soap, and a comb. Around the rim are delicate blossoming branches, three birds, and two winged insects. Ornamentation from two cultures, Asian and European, is thus united into one design.

The bird-and-flower motif on the rim was imitated or adapted by European artisans from imported Chinese and Japanese porcelain. Porcelain was highly prized in Europe for its amazing thinness, elegance, and translucence. Blue-and-white porcelain, first produced in China, was especially favored for its intricate, clear blue patterns on a white ground. Since the secret of porcelain production had not yet been discovered in Europe, tin-glazed earthenware painted in the style of Chinese porcelain proved extremely popular.

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