An English delftware hors d'oeuvres dish and two drainers, mid-18th century

An English delftware hors d'oeuvres dish and two drainers, mid-18th century The dish formed of a central pentangular compartment within five kidney-shaped sections, painted with flower sprays below a diaper and foliate panelled border, raised on five bun feet, 21.8cm wide, the pierced drainers also painted in blue, the larger example with neat abstract decoration, 27cm diam, the smaller example with five fish in the border with dotted and foliate motifs at every junction, 19.7cm diam (3) Footnotes: Provenance Louis Lipski Collection (larger strainer) With Jonathan Horne (hors d'oeuvres dish) Graham Slater Collection A similar hors d'oeuvres dish attributed to London, probably William Griffith of Lambeth High Street, is illustrated by Michael Archer in the Victoria & Albert Museum, see Delftware (1997), p.331, fig. G.11. The author describes it as a pickle tray. A Wedgwood pattern book of 1773 labels a related shape but with removable compartments as 'pickle saucers'. The fish swimming around the rim of the smaller drainer might also reference the intended function. Another example with four fish painted on a floral ground in the Fitzwilliam Museum is illustrated by Michael Archer, Delftware (2013), fig F.49. These would have been place inside larger dishes and perhaps fish was served on top of these components, straining the cooking liquids into the dish below. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing