Chelsea, Tureen in the Form of A Rabbit "as Big as Life"

Maker: Chelsea Porcelain Manufactory
Region: Chelsea, England
Collection: 18th Century European Porcelain
Accession: G94.2.1.1-2
Period: c.1755-1756
Materials: Glassy (frit) soft-paste porcelain with overglaze enamels
Dimensions: H. 22.9cm W. 33.7cm Depth: 17.8cm

A naturalistic, life-sized tureen in the form of a crouching rabbit, munching upon a leaf of lettuce upon which is a small snail. Several other lettuce leaves flank the figure. The lid encompasses the ears and part of the back of the rabbit. The rabbit is white with patches of a brownish-purple painted on the body and edges of the ears, the interior of which are painted in a flesh colour. The muzzle and eyes are painted in brown with some flesh colour. All the leaves are painted naturalistically in blue and green with puce veins.