Belleek Pottery Ltd. Decorative Objects

A pair of Art Deco style candlesticks. Brown and yellow dual ringed bakelite stem with chromed metal wax pan. Set over a rounded, stepped chromed metal base. Dimensions: H 14cm W 7....

This is an extremely rare Belleek cabaret set for two, or "tête-à-tête", made in the Erne series brought out in the 1890s. The items carry the 2nd Black Mark, used between 1891 and 1926. The set consists of a teapot, a milk jug, a sugar bowl, two teacups and saucers, and a large matching tray. This set is very fine and with its restrained cream-white colour it would make a wonderful wedding gift! If you ever thought Belleek fine china looks, sounds and feels unique, you are right. There is a back story to this extraordinarily fine Irish eggshell porcelain, which has an unusually high amount of "frit" and therefore is thinner and finer than any other china. Pottery in Belleek (in the now Northern-Irish area of Fermanagh) had started in 1849 with John Caldwell Bloomfield, who was a wealthy land owner. During the Irish famine he realised that unless he would find a way for his tenants to make a profit off the land, they would starve. Agriculture had become impossible due to the agricultural diseases. This caused millions to starve and more millions to leave. As an amateur mineralogist, John Caldwell Bloomfield realised that his land had exactly the right mineral deposits to be used as clay for porcelain. He involved several investors and scientists and after many years of research, trial, error, the building of a railway line to import coal from England, and building a factory, the Belleek pottery resulted, employing the local people and soon producing the finest china made with clay from the Belleek area. What had started as a way to fend off famine among the local tenants had became a story of incredible success by the 1880s as Queen Victoria fell in love with the fine white china and the many homely, slightly bizarre but nature-loving designs; this was different from English tradition, yet it was very much to the taste of the British who had developed a real love for home-made fine china since it was introduced in the late 18th Century. Belleek not only brought out many tea services, but started a new tradition of intricately woven porcelain baskets. Soon the English nobility started to place big orders and the pottery is still flourishing today and selling its wares the world over, while in England most potteries have long disappeared. Belleek made many cabaret services, often called breakfast services or "tête-à-tête" services; these were used to carry breakfast tea up to the bedroom. Queen Victoria bought one in the Echinus style during a visit to the factory in the 1860s, and ever since Belleek's cabaret services have been in great demand. Nowadays there are very few of these left and it is rare to find a full service like this. The Erne series was named after the river right besides the Belleek factory. This river forms the border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, with the factory on the Northern Irish end of the bridge at Belleek. The pattern seems to be a play on the baskets and nets of the fishermen who once fished the abundant trout and salmon on the river Erne and the lake that belongs to it. The items carry the second Black Mark, which was used between 1891 and 1926, however the very fine quality of the porcelain indicates that most pieces of the set are more likely to be from the 1890s than from the 20th Century. You will see that the shade of cob lustre is different on each item; this is normal for Belleek tea sets...

An Antique solid Silver Epergne Centrepiece with a large oval central basket supporting a tall trumpet shaped vase on top of an impressive concave shaped stand. The central stand has...

Danish Art Deco Bronze Candleholders by HF Bronce, 1930s. Pair of patinated bronze candle holders made by Danish manufacturer HF Bronce, Denmark in the 1930s. Made from thin bronze ...

A very fine and large 19th century Chinese export famille verte porcelain and French figural ormolu-mounted Chinoiserie style centerpiece jardinière, in the manner of Edward Holmes Baldock (1777-1845). The circular-ovoid porcelain bowl or cachepot, maybe 18th century Jiaqing period (unverified), decorated with a blue and purple ground background with parcel gilt depicting pagodas, trees, mountains and landscape scenes, flanking scrolled handles issuing from the base and ending with a finely chased ormolu pierced acanthus rim. The two ends with a projected mask of Chinese Imperial lions or foo dogs, surmounted and raised on six finely chased ormolu masks of Bacchus satyrs flanked by seashell-like mounts. The Ormolu, circa Paris, 1880. The Porcelain circa 1800 (Maybe 18th century.) Measures: Height: 15 3/4 inches (40 cm.) Overall width: 21 inches (53.4 cm.) Depth: 17 inches (43.2 cm.) Edward Holmes Baldock (1777-1845) was a prominent London furniture dealer to the Royal Family, father of Edward Holmes Baldock. He was first listed in the London trade directories in 1805. That listing had him operating out of No.7 Hanway Street in London, where he was described as selling "china and glass". An updated listing in 1821 described his business as "an antique furniture and ornamental furniture dealer", and in 1826 as a buyer and seller of "china, cabinets, screens, bronzes etc". Between 1832 and 1837 he sold earthenware and glass products to William IV, and upon the ascendancy of Queen Victoria in 1837, sold china until his death in 1845. Baldock was one of the first antique dealers and is similar to the 18th century marchands-merciers Dominique Daguerre and Simon-Philippe. He was the father of Edward Holmes Baldock (1812-1875), a British Conservative Party politician, and of Mary Frances Baldock, wife of the philatelist W. A. S. Westoby. Famille Verte Famille verte (????, Kangxi wucai...

Very rare set of three Art Deco brass candlesticks elephant herd, Germany, 1940s. Can be used as single or in a chain. Each one is approximate 2 3/8" high, 4 1/2" wide and 1 3/8" dee...

A vintage wicker basket, circa mid-20th century, USA. A great decorative basket for fruit, vegetables, bread, etc. Piece is oblong. Dimensions: 3" height x 5" D x 20.5" width. For ...

This 20th Century Belgian Wicker Basket is an embodiment of practical beauty, weaving together functionality with the charm of rustic aesthetics. Its ro...

Shallow and stylish Art Deco candleholder for Church or bloc candles. Architectural feature with its 'staired' design. Manufactured in Denmark during the 1930s in a style reminiscent...

BELLEEK (Manufacturer) - ' Neptune ' (Pattern) - Vintage porcelain sugar bowl - featuring a yellow iridescent glaze to the interior of the bowl - green maker's mark to the bottom - I...

BELLEEK (Manufacturer) - ' Neptune ' (Pattern) - Vintage porcelain cream jug - large Size - featuring a yellow iridescent glaze to the handle - green maker's mark to the bottom - Ire...

Very rare set of four Art Deco brass candlesticks elephant herd, Germany, 1940s. Can be used as single or in a chain. Each one is approx. 2...