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.

‘Hans Sloane’ Chelsea dish is a vine find

09 November 2020

This Chelsea dish moulded as a vine leaf and painted with polychrome fruit is a textbook production from the Red Anchor period c.1755-58.

Ceramics and glass: Market reboot helps to break the mould

13 July 2020

The market for traditional British and Continental ceramics did not lie idle for three months. As ATG reports, a renewed enthusiasm greeted the first major UK sale since lockdown

Toys, trifles and trinkets in St James’s

09 March 2020

A rare Chelsea bodkin case in the form of a cauliflower spear is among the objects on offer at the Albert Amor exhibition 'Toys and Trifles', featuring a single-owner collection built up over 20 years.

Porcelain from the Prince of Interiors features highly at Sotheby’s New York

10 February 2020

A sizeable helping of English and Continental ceramics featured in the large auction titled Mario Buatta: Prince of Interiors held by Sotheby’s New York (25/20/13.9% buyer’s premium).

Chelsea porcelain dishes appear in New Jersey sale

20 January 2020

On January 30, Millea Bros of Boonton, New Jersey, will offer more than 400 lots of English and American furniture and decorative arts from the estate of Elizabeth ‘Betty’ Seeler (1926-2018).

Louis-François Roubiliac (1705-1762), 'Head of a Laughing Child', about 1746–49 (c) Victoria and Albert Museum, London (3).jpg

Rare and early white porcelain sculpture from Chelsea factory bought by V&A museum

20 December 2019

A white porcelain sculpture made in the experimental years of the Chelsea factory has been acquired for the national collection of ceramics at the Victoria & Albert Museum.

Bidders sniff out early scent bottles at New York sales

25 November 2019

Early-18th century porcelain scent bottles from Chelsea and the St James’s factory have been the object of increasing interest and value in recent years. Some high-flying examples emerged in the sales in New York.

Zoffany drawing and Chelsea mug shine in London Art Week

08 July 2019

A black and white chalk on paper drawing of Jupiter and Antiope by Johan Zoffany (1733-1810) was among the highlight sales during London Art Week (LAW).

Kent design decorates Chelsea vases at Albert Amor

03 June 2019

A pair of large c.1760 Chelsea ovoid vases made after a drawing by English architect and furniture designer William Kent (1685-1748), is on offer at Albert Amor this month.

Early Chelsea porcelain continues to attract bidders

06 May 2019

A matched pair of Chelsea mugs cropped up in an Andrew Smith’s (21% buyer’s premium) sale in Hampshire.

Estate provides Chelsea candlesticks to Stair Galleries in New York

19 April 2019

English and Continental porcelain from several notable estates is included in Stair Galleries’ next fine sale in Hudson, New York, on April 27-28.

Spotting rare red Chelsea squirrels in Exeter

18 March 2019

Rare examples of early English porcelain are still capable of remarkable sums.

Joyce Paretti collection of perfume bottles produces sweet-smelling results

19 March 2018

Multi-estimate results greeted the Joyce Paretti collection of perfume bottles sold by John Nicholson’s (24% buyer’s premium) of Fernhurst in two instalments before and after the new year.

Polarised market for English ceramics highlighted by single-owner sales in Exeter and Derby

19 March 2018

Collecting traditional English ceramics is still a popular pursuit on both sides of the Atlantic – but one where purchases are always tailored to fit the purse strings of the core collecting audience.

Porcelain from Hugh Marsham Townshend collection

Sworders to offer ‘toys’ from Hugh Marsham Townshend collection

24 August 2016

When in the middle of the century Suffolk collector Hugh Marsham Townshend (1878-1967) was amassing a collection of gold-mounted porcelain scent bottles and other trinkets, most were thought to be the products of the Chelsea porcelain works or a shadowy enterprise known as the ‘Girl in a Swing’ factory.