An unusual porcelain blue and white asparagus shell, later 18th century, in the manner of Spode or Derby, the flat tapering receptacle with upturned sides for the purposes of serving long spears of asparagus, decorated with a transferware Chinoiserie scene of a figure walking beside a lattice fence beneath ferns and weeping trees; unmarked. Height 3.5 cm. Width 10 cm. Depth 9.5 cm