The circular hemispherical bowl embossed with swags around the sides separated by 4 tied garlands. The lower part with an embossed calyx of acanthus leaves and the rim with beaded border. The spreading foot fluted and bordered by large beading.
The Noble family
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In Robert Rowe's defining monograph entitled "Adam Silver" he states on p.39 "To Louisa Courtauld and George Cowles neo-classicism seems quickly to have become a natural way of expressing themselves as artists. They had an extraordinary knack of using a charming variation on a familiar motif in just the right place and of contrasting an area of decoration with the most complimentary amount of plain surface". So it is with this charming bowl. The weight and quality are both above average and it has that delightful combination of noteworthy but restrained ornament. As someone commented "this work is like Hester Bateman on steroids" ! . We wouldn't go that far but we got their drift.
When Samuel Courtauld died in 1765 his widow, Louisa, carried on the business teaming up with one of Samuel's apprentices George Cowles; it was a productive parnership that lasted 9 years and produced some of the loveliest pieces in the neo-classical or Adam style. George married Judith Jacob a grand-daughter of Augustine Courtauld thus making him a nephew of Louisa. The Victoria and Albert Museum has a cup and cover by Courtauld and Cowles, dated 1771, which has the same swags and garlands with a calyx of acanthus leaves.
This piece has to be held to be really appreciated and its size makes it somewhat useful and usable.