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.
Bow porcelain
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.
