Oriental Lowestoft

The term "Oriental Lowestoft" is a misnomer, as it was erroneously applied to Chinese porcelain made for export to Europe and America, rather than being produced at the Lowestoft factory in England.1

Lowestoft porcelain, an English phosphatic soft-paste ware, was made from 1757 to 1802. These wares, typically small and light, included domestic items like pots, teapots, and jugs. They were decorated in blue and white or in polychrome with a bright red. After 1770, transfer printing was also used. Shapes were often copied from silverwork or other porcelain factories like Bow and Worcester.1

Chinese porcelain, on the other hand, has a profound influence on European pottery. Chinese decoration is often symbolic, with motifs representing longevity, happiness, and various religious and mythological figures. While Chinese marks can be complex, the dating of Chinese pottery is further complicated by overlapping traditional types.2