The Fortune Teller
Despite operating for just a few years between 1753 and 1756, the York House factory in Battersea remains the most renowned of all British enamel manufactories because of the superior quality of its transfer printed designs. The image on this decorative plaque—depicting the common subject of a fortune teller distracting a wealthy woman while a child picks her pockets—may have been adapted from a 1738 engraving by Pierre-Alexandre Aveline after a painting by Boucher. Ravenet’s engraving would later be reworked by Robert Hancock, also employed as an engraver for transfer printing at Battersea.
Enameled objects like this one were intended to imitate the lustrous quality of porcelain at more affordable prices. By the middle of the eighteenth century, technological innovations had made it possible to roll copper, instead of the far costlier gold, into very thin sheets. Powdered glass mixed with minerals (to determine the opacity and color of the enamel) would then be applied onto the copper sheets and fired at high temperatures. A design—whether a famous portrait, generic pastoral scene, or floral motif— could be painted on by hand or copied from an engraving through the newly invented process of transfer printing. Many enameled objects combined both methods of decoration and would be refired after the application of each new layer or color.
Enameled objects like this one were intended to imitate the lustrous quality of porcelain at more affordable prices. By the middle of the eighteenth century, technological innovations had made it possible to roll copper, instead of the far costlier gold, into very thin sheets. Powdered glass mixed with minerals (to determine the opacity and color of the enamel) would then be applied onto the copper sheets and fired at high temperatures. A design—whether a famous portrait, generic pastoral scene, or floral motif— could be painted on by hand or copied from an engraving through the newly invented process of transfer printing. Many enameled objects combined both methods of decoration and would be refired after the application of each new layer or color.
Artwork Details
- Title: The Fortune Teller
- Engraver: Simon Francis Ravenet, the elder (French, Paris 1706–1774 London)
- Designer: possibly James Gwim (Irish, Kildare ca. 1700–1769 London)
- Engraver: possibly after Pierre Alexandre Aveline (French, Paris 1702–1760 Paris)
- Artist: possibly after François Boucher (French, Paris 1703–1770 Paris)
- Manufactory: York House (British)
- Date: ca. 1753–56
- Culture: British, Battersea
- Medium: Enamel on copper
- Dimensions: confirmed: 4 × 4 × 3/16 in. (10.2 × 10.2 × 0.5 cm)
- Classification: Enamels-Painted
- Credit Line: Gift of Mrs. James M. Kellogg, in memory of her husband, 2023
- Object Number: 2023.441.93
- Curatorial Department: European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
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Multiple artists/makers
18th century
Multiple artists/makers
18th century
Multiple artists/makers
18th century
Multiple artists/makers
18th century
Multiple artists/makers
ca. 1730–50
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