The centrepiece was decorated at the Chamberlain factory, painted with the initial ‘D’ under a coronet, and with the crest in the top border reserve, indicating that it was made for the Marquess of Donegal. The border has panels of figures in classical style, linked with festoons of flowers using bright blue enamels in conjunction with gold. The centrepiece is of Caughley porcelain, the stand hardpaste and of Chamberlain manufacture.
Length of centrepiece: 38 cm
Length of stand: 32.5 cm
Mark: Painted in red with the rare mark of ‘CHAMBERLAIN’ to the base of the centrepiece.
Condition: Centrepiece in very good condition, with some slight wear to gilt rim. The stand with some loss to two of the feet and 5 cm hairline to edge.
SOLD
Provenance: Formerly in the Geoffrey Godden Collection. His collection labels to base of centrepiece.
Note: This service is discussed in some detail by Dr Godden in his book on Chamberlain Worcester Porcelain, pp.49-50, illustrations 23 and 24. There is an entry in the Chamberlain Archives under the date 18 September 1793, where the service is described as ‘Sold Rt. Honble. Lord and Marquess Donegall’ which links to this service. All the pieces are of Caughley manufacture except for the stand for the centrepiece, which is not listed, and which is of hard paste porcelain of Chamberlain manufacture. Dr Godden notes that: ‘It would seem at the period when this considerable order was placed the Chamberlains were not capable of making such a large dessert set in their own porcelain.’