Dishing it out
The woman, with two children at her side, is breast-feeding an infant. She may symbolise the act of Charity. The figurine is an example of one of the more decorative pieces produced by the porcelain factory in Bow. The piece dates from the middle of the 1750s.
The Bow Porcelain factory was founded at Stratford in 1747. Bow porcelain was created to compete with the popular imported oriental porcelain. But it soon established its own market within Britain. Unlike London's other main porcelain factory of the time at Chelsea, Bow focused on wares for everyday use such as cups and bowls. These were decorated in blue and white patterns imitating oriental designs.
Centre for industry
With its location east of London, on the banks of the River Lea, Bow was well-situated for deliveries of raw materials. Other factories nearby included a calico-printing works.
Museum number NN2707