Spode Spaniel Bon Bon Dish, 1800, Timothy Menzel Collection

• Circa - A Latin term meaning 'about', often used in the antique trade to give an approximate date for the piece, usually considered to be five years on either side of the circa year. Thus, circa 1900 means the piece was made about 1900, probably between 1895 and 1905. The expression is sometimes abbreviated to c.1900.
• Gilding - Gilding is a method of ornamentation whereby a thin sheet of gold metal is applied to items made of wood, leather, ceramics, glass and silver for decorative purposes.
  
  For furniture including mirrors, the sheet of gold is usually applied over a coating of gesso. Gesso is a mixture of plaster of Paris and gypsum mixed with water and then applied to the carved wooden frames of mirrors and picture frames as a base for applying the gold leaf. After numerous coats of gesso have been applied, allowed to dry and then sanded a coat of "bole", a usually red coloured mixture of clay and glue is brushed on and allowed to dry, after which the gold leaf is applied. Over time parts of the gilding will rub off so the base colour can be seen. In water gilding, this was generally a blue colour, while in oil gilding, the under layer was often yellow. In Victorian times, gilders frequently used red as a pigment beneath the gold leaf.
  
  Metal was often gilded by a process known as fire gilding. Gold mixed with mercury was applied and heated, causing the mercury to evaporate, the long-term effect of which was to kill or disable the craftsman or woman from mercury poisoning. The pursuit of beauty has claimed many victims, not the least of which were the artists who made those pieces so highly sought after today.
• Bonbon Dish - A bonbon dish is a type of serving dish that is specifically designed to hold small, bite-sized candy or chocolates, which in the 19th century were also known as bonbons. They were often used for special occasions, like parties, weddings and holidays. They are also a common serving piece for after-dinner desserts, such as chocolates.
  
  These dishes are often decorative and can be made from a variety of materials such as silver, glass, crystal, metal, or porcelain. Bonbon dishes come in many different shapes and sizes, but most are relatively small, and have a shallow bowl or dish shape.

This item has been included into following indexes:

• Copeland Spode (England), item types - dishes and bowls 166