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Dish with the story of "Hob in the Well"

ca. 1755
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 201
Identified by the Chelsea factory as "Hob in the Well," the theme on this plate is reputed to have come from the hero of the play The Country Wake, written and first produced by Thomas Doggett (1660–1721) in 1696. Although it is not known how the name and composition came to be associated, it is clear that this representation of the scene is based on the Japanese version of the Chinese story of Sima Guang.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Dish with the story of "Hob in the Well"
  • Factory: Chelsea Porcelain Manufactory (British, 1744–1784)
  • Date: ca. 1755
  • Culture: British, Chelsea
  • Medium: Soft-paste porcelain painted with colored enamels over transparent glaze
  • Dimensions: Length: 8 in. (20.3 cm)
  • Classification: Ceramics-Porcelain
  • Credit Line: The Hans Syz Collection, Gift of Stephan B. Syz and John D. Syz, 1995
  • Object Number: 1995.268.171
  • Curatorial Department: European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
More Artwork
Plate, Chelsea Porcelain Manufactory  British, Soft-paste porcelain, British, Chelsea
Factory Chelsea Porcelain Manufactory
ca. 1752
Dish with the Chinese story of Sima Guang, Hard-paste porcelain painted with colored enamels over transparent glaze (Hizen ware; Kakiemon type), Japanese, for European market
Japanese, for European market
ca. 1700–1720
Hearing (one of a pair), Chelsea Porcelain Manufactory  British, Soft-paste porcelain with enamel decoration and gilding, British, Chelsea
Factory Chelsea Porcelain Manufactory
Modeler Modeled by Joseph Willems
ca. 1755
Division Viol, Richard Meares  British, Spruce, ebony, maple, British
labeled Richard Meares
ca. 1680
Chocolate cup and saucer with dragons and phoenixes, Meissen Manufactory  German, Hard-paste porcelain painted with colored enamels over transparent glaze, German, Meissen
Manufactory Meissen Manufactory
ca. 1739

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