News

Chelsea Porcelain

Chelsea porcelain refers to the soft-paste ceramics made in Chelsea, London from the mid-to-late 18^th century. The original factory is believed to have been founded by Charles Gouyn and the silversmith Nicolas Sprimont, although few documents survive relating to its early history.

The items produced at Chelsea include tablewares such as cups, plates, sauce-boats and coffee pots, as well as figures, vases and scent bottles, and they have marks identifying the period of manufacture such as the triangle period (1743-49/50), the raised anchor period (1750-52), the red anchor period (1752-56) and the gold anchor period (1758-70).

The factory and kilns were later acquired by William Duesbury of Derby who kept production going until 1784 when the workshops were closed and the many moulds were either destroyed or removed to Derby.

Dealer’s eye brings profit with £7800 cup

13 August 2007

It was catalogued as Bow c.1760 but this English porcelain coffee cup seen at Bamfords of Derby on July 25 was identified as belonging to a much rarer class of porcelain associated with Charles Gouyn and a short-lived London concern in St James’s.

Ashmolean secures historic Chelsea collection

10 April 2007

After a year-long fund-raising effort, The Ashmolean Museum in Oxford has just secured the future of its most impressive Chelsea porcelain exhibit.

Chelsea wares bear fruit

18 August 2004

THE most sought-after and best-performing English factory amongst the more select gatherings of English wares at Sotheby’s Bond Street sale was undoubtedly Chelsea. The auctioneers had 16 lots to offer, mostly consigned from one collection and of the currently fashionable Red Anchor period botanical type either in their painted decoration or shape.

A year full of promise on the books front

18 February 2004

2004 is shaping up well for arts publishing, and publishers of books which cover the genre also reported excellent sales last year, particularly in the run-up to Christmas. Here, the Antiques Trade Gazette takes a look at some of the books on offer this year, many of which will be reviewed.