First Period Worcester
18th Century Worcester Porcelain. A very abridged and then trimmed and potted history of Worcester porcelain from Lunds Bristol to the soft paste porcelain of First Period Worcester and Thomas Flight. We do not discuss Flight nd Barr and the other partnerships in this category nor Royal Worcester Porcelain. This humble attempt is no more than the briefest of guides to give the observer some context to accompany the images below. We do provide abriegf guide to the decorative styles deployed by Britains most celebrated porcelain company on the banks of the river severn
The name most widely associated with Worcester porcelain is that of Dr John Wall a physician. In conjunction with a chemist ( the apothecary William Davis ) they atempted to produce porcelain. Having met with Messers Lund and Miller of the Bristol porcelain factory they persuaded a group of local businessmen to invest in a new factory at Warmstry House Worcester.
Lunds Bristol. The forerunner of the Worcester factory was the very short-lived manufactory of Benjamin Lund at Redcliffe Backs in Bristol that was in operation between 1749-1751. In Early 1752 the Bristol factory was merged with the newly established Worcester Tonquin factory founded in June 1751. Benjamin Lund transferred all his stock, moulds and working materials and worked as a consultant with the new enterprise for at least a year. It is believed that Benjamin Lund at Redcliffe Backs produced ‘painted blue’ and ‘undecorated’ pieces. Polychrome decoration was undertaken at the new Worcester factory. Some early Worcester porcelain shapes were “heavily influenced” by oriental forms but most derived from contemporary English silver and the contemporary rococo wares.
Early Chinese Decoration 1750-1755. The early decorative influences were mostly Chinese, capturing the spirit of chinoiserie, Chinese scenes, Chinese figures, strutting birds, miniature islands, drifts of flowers and foliage. The decoration being heavily influenced by the fantasy chinioserie of French rococo artist Francois Boucher and “Fleurs de Fantasie” of Jean Pillement and his landscapes
Early Japanese Decoration 1750-1755. Japanese porcelain began to arrive in Britain around 1680. Ceramic designs imported by the Dutch East India Company from Arita , known as “Kakiemon” influenced the porcelain decorators at Worcester. Asymmetric designs with flowering peonies, bamboo and pines trees, prunus blossom and flying birds were created. Other Japanese styles were also emulated to a lesser degree.
Early European Decoration 1755-1765. The influence and impact on the Worcester factory by Meissen cannot be understated. The Meissen style flower painting came to the fore. Some patterns and colour grounds were directly copied from Meissen originals. Other decorative styles in this period include pencilled figures and miniature scenes of European figures in landscapes. Birds in landscapes and intricate flower displays were often associated with the artist James Rogers. Factory marks were infrequently used on polychrome wares during this period and identification is based upon an understanding of the paste and glaze and recognition of distinctive Worcester shapes
The first period 1765-1776. Some of the most successful, finest and celebrated styles of decoration were produced during this period. Rich Japan patterns, Hop Trellis patterns (as many as twelve variants), colourful Chinese figurative patterns, exotic birds and insects, monochrome (both floral and figurative) including blue and white porcelains, colourful floral displays, landscapes, decoration with royal blue borders, turquoise cailloute and dry blue. The coloured grounds were mostly inspired by Meissen and Sevres, examples include blue scale, wet blue or gros bleu, powder blue, mazarine blue, bleu celeste, sea-green, purple scale, yellow, yellow scale, claret, apple green and pink scale
James Giles and Externally Decorated Worcester Porcelain. The capital was at a disadvantage to other regions with regards to porcelain works and manufacture. Clay and coal to fire kilns had to be brought from long distances. Isleworth, Vauxhall, Limehouse, Bow and sadly even the great Chelsea factory were to fail or close or relocate. London did however play a very significant role in the development of decoration on English porcelain. It was fashionable, a huge population centre and it traded with the world. This created wealth, something on which the greatest craftsman and artisans in jewellery, furniture, clothing, art and porcelain decoration had to predicate.
The names of Richard Horwood, Taylor and Abbot, JH O’Neale and others have for the most part been forgotten. That of James Giles has not. Giles was responsible for the more ambitious and prestigious forms of polychrome decoration including the majority of the coloured grounds and his cisele gilding is of the finest quality.
Pencil and transfer decoration – 1756-1765. The technique of pencil decoration derived from Chinese porcelain and was very much in fashion during the period specified. The artist achieved the effect by using a very fine brush of one colour , usually black. A few standard patterns were used – Chinese landscapes, Chinese figures holding parasols, Chinese figures and pavilions, Chinese boy on a buffalo, flowers, butterflies and foliage some of the patterns with intricate borders.
Transfer printing over glaze from 1753-4. The technique was first deployed with enamels by John Brooks in Birmingham, before he went to Battersea in 1753,. The earliest Worcester examples date from 1753-1754 associated with the designer L P Boitard and several prints bear his signature, known as ‘smokey primitives’. The engraver Robert Hancock was the major proponent of the technique he became a full partner in the factory from 1772 until disputes with other partners lead to his departure in 1774. Much of Hancock’s inspiration came from Francois Boucher, Jean-Antoine Watteau, Jean Pillement and Nicolas Lancret – some prints occur in “jet enamel” a fine strong black colour but other colours include reddish-brown and dark lilac
First Period Worcester Porcelain Prunus Root Pattern Tea Bowl and Saucer c1765
A very fine Worcester Prunus Root pattern tea bowl and saucer from c1765 in excellent condition. For more antique porcelain, including a wide range of 18th century British porcelain, please visit Scottish Antiques online store.
£165.00
First Period Worcester Porcelain Warbler Pattern Coffee Cup and Saucer 1754-60
A very fine and early Worcester porcealin coffee cup and saucer in the Warbler pattern in excellent condition. For more antique porcelain, including a wide range of Georgian porcleian, please visit Scottish Antiques online store.
£1,100.00
First Period Worcester Porcelain Fisherman and Willow Pavillion Tea Bowl and Saucer 1755-60
A very fine Worcester tea bowl and saucer in the Fishermand and Willow Pavillion pattern. For more antique porcelain, including a wide range of 18th century British porcelain, please visit Scottish Antiques online store.
£580.00
Worcester Porcelain Queen's Pattern Teacup and Saucer c1775
A very fine Worcester porcelain Queen's pattern teacup and saucer from c1775 in excellent condition. For more antique porcelain, including a wide range of 18th century British porcelain, please visit Scottish Antiques online store.
£190.00
First Period Worcester Japan Fan Pattern Spoon Tray c1770
First Period Worcester Japan Fan Pattern Spoon Tray c1770
£280.00
First Period Worcester Old Mosaic Pattern Kidney Shape Dish c1775
A very fine First Period Worcester Old Mosaic pattern kidney dish from c1775 in good condition. For more antique porcelain, including a wide range of 18th century British porcelain, please visit Scottish Antiques online store.
£450.00
First Period Worcester Porcelain Kempthorne Pattern Sucrier c1770
A very fine Worcester Kempthorne pattern sucrier from c1770 in excellent condition. For more antique porcelain, including a wide range of 18th century British porcelain, please visit Scottish Antiques online store.
£425.00
First Period Worcester Japan Fan Pattern Teapot Stand c1770
A very fine First Period Worcester Fan pattern teapot stand from c1770 in excellent condition. For more antique porcelain, including a wide range of 18th century British porcelain, please visit Scottish Antiques online store.
£325.00
First Period Worcester Porcelain Kempthorne Pattern Trio c1770
A very fine first period Worcester porcelian Kempthorne pattern trio from c1770 in excellent condition. For more antique porcleian, including a wide range of 18th century British porcelain, please visit Scottish Antiques online store.
£325.00
First Period Worcester Porcelain Kempthorne Pattern Trio c1770
A very fine fine First Period Worcester porcelain Kempthorne pattern trio from c1770 in excellent condition. For more antique porcelain, including a wide range of 18th century British porcelain, please visit Scottish Antiques online store.
£290.00
First Period Worcester Porcelain Old Mosaic Pattern Tureen c1775
A very fine Worcester porcelain Old Mosaic pattern tureen from c1775 in excellent condition. For more antique porcleain, including a wide range of 18th century porcelain, please visit Scottish Antiques online store.
£825.00
First Period Worcester Porcelain Pierced Basket c1770
A very fine First Period Worcester porcelain pierced basket from c1770 in excellent condition. For more antique porcelain, including a wide range of 18th century porcelain, please visit Scottish Antiques online store.
£425.00
First Period Worcester Porcelain Pierced Basket c1770
A very fine First Period Worcester basket from c1770 in excellent condition. For more antique porcelain, including a wide range of 18th century porcelain, please visit Scottish Antiques online store.
£425.00
First Period Worcester Porcelain Pierced Basket c1770
A very fine First Period Worcester basket from c1770 in excellent condition. For more antique porcelain, including a wide range of 18th century porcelain, please visit Scottish Antiques online store.
£425.00
Worcester Porcelain Sauce Boat with Two Porters Landscape Pattern c1770
Worcester Sauce Boat with Two Porters Landscape Pattern c1770
£190.00
Worcester Twin Handled Sauce Boat with Landscape Pattern c1758
Worcester Twin Handled Sauce Boat with Landscape Pattern c1758
£350.00
Worcester Porcelain Three Flowers Helmet Cream Jug c1775
Worcester blue and White porcelain by Lawrence Branyan, Neal French and John Sandon pg 394 pattern II.C.19
£145.00
A Worcester Blue and White Porcelain Mug Natural Sprays Group c.1780
A Worcester Blue and White Porcelain Mug Circa 1780
£190.00
First Period Worcester Bell Shape Floral Pattern Mug c1775
First period Worcester porcelain bell shape mug with hand painted floral pattern
£385.00
Worcester Porcelain Parrot Pecking Cider Mug c1775
A Worcester Porcelain Cider Mug of baluster form
£375.00
First Period Worcester Three Flowers Pattern Tea Canister c1775
We love old restoration. If you ever have the opportunity to visit the National Museum of Iceland you will see that necessity is the mother of invention. Porcelain stapled with fish bones, drinking glasses glued back together with bone glue and clothes da
£275.00
A Very Fine Worcester Porcelain Guglet Water Bottle with Pine Cone Group and Ripe Pomegranate Patterns c1780
Worcester Porcelain Water Bottle with Pine Cone Group and Ripe Pomegranate Patterns c1780
£580.00
Worcester Porcelain La Peche Promenade Mug c1775
he design was published in "Le Livres Chinoise" after the engravings of Canot in 1758. In Robert Sayers tome of 1760 "Ladies Amusement" it shows the design adopted by Hancock at Worcester. Is this a mug or a tankard. Was this intended
£250.00
First Period Worcester Plantation Pattern Cider Mug c1775
A very fine First Period Worcester plantation pattern cider mug from c1775 in excellent condition. For more antique porcleian, including a wide range of 18th century porcleain, please visit Scottish Antiques' online store.
£375.00
A Worcester First Period Porcelain Water Gugglet c1780
Probably the most popular and enduring of all the Worcester factory designs and used extensively on a wide range of useful wares. The Gugglet, so named by the noise of the water created when in use, is one of the rarer forms complimented by this design
£525.00
A Fine First Period Worcester Porcelain Dutch Jug c1760
A very fine Worcester porcelain Dutch Jug
£850.00
First Period Worcester Plantation Print Mug c1765
First Period Worcester Plantation Print Mug c1765
£290.00
Rare Worcester Porcelain Fisherman In A Fan Shaped Panel Cream Jug c1765
First Period Worcester Porcelain sparrow beak jug, one of many pieces of 18th century English porcelain for the inspired collector
£925.00
Rare Worcester Compagnie des Indes Sparrow Beak Jug c1770
Worcester porcelain sparrow beak jug, compagnie des indes
£225.00
Worcester Porcelain Queen's Pattern Teacup and Saucer c1775
A very fine Worcester porcelain Queen's pattern teacup and saucer from c1775 in excellent condition. For more antique porcelain, including a wide range of 18th century porcelain, please visit Scottish Antiques online store.
£190.00
First Period Worcester Blue Scale Fancy Birds Teacup and Saucer c1775
A very fine first period Worcester fancy birds teacup and saucer from c1775 in excellent condition. For more antique porcelain, including a wide range of 18th century porcelain, please visit Scottish Antiques' online store.
£265.00
First Period Worcester Blue Scale Dessert or Soup Plate c1775
A very fine First Period Worcester porcelain blue scale dessert or soup plate from c1775 in excellent condition. For more antique porcelain, including a wide range of Georigan British porcelain, please visit Scottish Antiques online store.
£225.00
FIrst Period Worcester Immortelle Pattern Teacup and Saucer c1780
A very fine First Period Worcester Immortelle pattern teacup and saucer from c1780 in excellent condition. For more antique porcelain, including a wide range of Georgian British porcelain, please visit Scottish Antiques online store.
£240.00
A Very Fine First Period Worcester Blue Scale Dessert Plate c1775
A very fine First Period Worcester blue scale soup plate from c1775 in excellent condition. For more antique porcelain, including a wide range of Georgian British porcelain, please visit Scottish Antiques online store.
£225.00
Very Fine First Period Worcester Blue Scale Dessert Plate c1775
A very fine First Period Worcester porcelain blue scale soup plate from c1775 in excellent condition. For more antique porcelain, including a wide range of Georgian British porcelain, please visit Scottish Antiques online store.
£200.00
First Period Worcester Porcelain Immortelle Pattern Teacup and Saucer c1780
A very fine First Period Worcester porcelain teacup and saucer in the immortelle pattern from c1780 in excellent condition. For more antique porcelain, including a wide range of Georgian British porcelain, please visit Scottish Antiques online store.
£200.00