A beautiful and highly desirable Dr. Wall Worcester salt in the form of a scallop shell, the interior painted with an agitated bird amidst foliage with red berries, the rim shaded with pink, and the whole supported on a raised trefoil base applied with a variety of shells, seaweed, and coral in vibrant colors. The underside of the rim of the base marked with an impressed "T" for John Toulouse.
The overall condition is excellent, with a small, very tight, hardly visible hairline, about 3/4" which runs from around 6:00 o'clock and extends over to around 4:30, and is between the lowest part of the central painting and the pink edge, It is not visible on the bottom. There are several very small and minor chips to a couple of the supporting shells. The piece is 4" across, 3" wide, and 2 1/4" in height.

Notes: 1. The mark "T" is associated with the modeller John Toulouse who had previously been employed by the Bow factory to make similar models. 2. For another shell salt (painted with a bird) impressed with his mark, see The Zorka Hodgson Collection, sold by Bonhams, 10th September 2008, lot 79. A similar pair of salts painted with flowers, and with substantially more damage, were in The Sir Jeremy Lever Collection, sold by Bonhams.

Antique Porcelain & Pottery