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The Bowles Porcelain Gallery

The Porcelain Gallery has been a much-loved component of the Legion of Honor for many years. A project initiated by the museums founder, Alma de Bretteville Spreckels, it shows an array of porcelain and pottery from England and continental Europe with a strong emphasis on the eighteenth century.

The front section of the gallery is devoted exclusively to the story of English porcelain, from the early days of the Chelsea factory to the widespread production of Worcester. The back section of the gallery tells the story of Continental porcelain and pottery. Highlights include the Bowles collection of Chantilly, as well as Meissen, Sèvres, and maiolica made in Renaissance Italy. Cases in the center of the gallery hold rotating displays of porcelain and pottery. Adjacent to the gallery is the Ceramic Study Center, which provides additional resources and research materials.

The pieces in the front of the gallery constitute the extensive collection of English porcelain gifted by Constance and Henry Bowles to the museum in 1991, and those of George McNear Bowles.

 

Tour of the Bowles Porcelain Collection

Enjoy the virtual tour of the Bowles Porcelain Gallery thanks to generous funding by the late Constance Bowles Peabody. You can also download the tour for use on an iPod, iPhone, or other smartphone.

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Dovecote, English, Chelsea, ca. 1755–1756. Soft-paste porcelain, 17 x 8 1/4 in. Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, Gift of Mrs. Constance Bowles Hart in memory of Henry Bowles, 1986.45a-e

Madagascar Hoopoe, German, Meissen, ca. 1736, modeled by Johann Kändler and Johann Gottlieb Ehder. Hard-paste porcelain, 12 3/8 x 4 x 8 1/4 in. Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, Museum purchase, Samuel Untermeyer II Purchase Fund in memory of his father, Judge Irwin Untermeyer, and the William H. Noble Bequest Fund, 1979.37.1-2

Madagascar Hoopoe, German, Meissen, ca. 1736, modeled by Johann Kändler and Johann Gottlieb Ehder. Hard-paste porcelain, 12 3/8 x 4 x 8 1/4 in. Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, Museum purchase, Samuel Untermeyer II Purchase Fund in memory of his father, Judge Irwin Untermeyer, and the William H. Noble Bequest Fund, 1979.37.1-2

Capitano Spavento, Commedia dell’Arte series, Nymphenburg, Germany, ca. 1760–1763, modeled by Franz Anton Bustelli. Hard-paste porcelain, 7 3/4 in. Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, Anonymous gift in honor of our parents, 2004.116

Charger depicting Psyche’s Father Consulting the Oracle, from the Fable of Psyche, Italy, Faenza, ca. 1550–1570. Maiolica, 2 x 17 3/4 in. Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, Gift of Jakob Goldschmidt, 53.40.5

Adriaenus Koeks, Pair of Tulipères (Tulip vases), Holland, Delft, Greek A Factory, ca. 1690. Tin-glazed earthenware, 39 3/4 x 9 1/2 x 9 1/2 in. Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, Bequest of Frances Adler Elkins, 55.9.1a-f and 55.9.21a-f

Asparagus tureen, English, Chelsea, ca. 1755. Soft-paste porcelain, 4 3/16 x 7 3/16 x 3 15/16 in. Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, Gift of Mrs. Julian Peabody, 2009.41.1a-b