Rockingham Porcelain

A rare Rockingham porcelain ‘Toy bucket’, 1826-1830. Modelled as a small, conical shaped bucket, with a lowered swing handle. Hand painted to the body with flowers, between gilt band...

Rare Rockingham porcelain pug dog, c. 1835. The well modelled, seated pug dog, wearing a gilt, studded collar, with a puce rosette and gilt name tag attached. Seated upon a puce cush...

On offer is a rare and stunning full tea service made by Rockingham in about 1832. The service consists of a large teapot with cover and a stand, 4 teacups, 4 coffee cups, 4 saucers, a milk jug, a sucrier with cover, a large slop bowl and a cake plate. It is rare to come across a tea service this good, and it is fabulous both on display and for use. Although the Rockingham pottery started some time in the mid-18th Century, when we say "Rockingham" it mostly means the Rockingham pottery as it was run between 1826 and 1842, creating high quality bone china table ware. The pottery rose to fame when King William VI ordered a huge dinner service containing 200 pieces. It took 600 people 7 years to complete this service, and by the time it was finished the King died. It ended up being used for the first time at the subsequent coronation of Queen Victoria in 1837. In the end, the undertaking, although it brought important business from all British aristocracy, had ruined the pottery and it never recovered. It closed it doors in 1842. This story serves to show the status, artistic sophistication and capacity of the Rockingham pottery in the 1830s. As the pottery only produced between 1826 and 1842, good pieces are relatively rare and to find this service is a treat. It is made of sturdy, thickly potted bone china. The design is cream coloured with gilt seaweed all over and beautiful small hand painted flower bouquets. The shapes of the items deserve extra attention. This set is an example of the Rococo Revival, with lavish twists and turns. The teapot spout and handle seem to have little twigs or leaves growing out of them - or are they fish fins? Whatever they are, it is highly charming. The shape of the pot itself is a beautiful pear shape; generous yet sophisticated with perfectly balanced dimensions. The cups are typical Rococo bell-shaped cups with a wide opening. The lids of the teapot and sucrier are in the iconic and striking crown shape, a sign that this set was made after the pottery attracted the King's patronage. An example of an identically shaped teapot with a similar seaweed pattern can be found in Miller & Berthoud's book "An Anthology of British Teapots...

A stunning and exquisitely hand painted antique Rockingham porcelain vase decorated with floral blooms dating from around 1830. The finely made vase...

Rockingham porcelain pin tray, c. 1835. Finely hand painted to the centre, with a study of Spring flowers upon a marble plinth., within a blue border. Th...

This is a very charming porcelain pug dog made by Rockingham in about 1835. This tiny dog would make a perfect Valentine's Day gift! Although the Rockingham pottery started some time in the mid-18th century, when we say "Rockingham" it mostly means the Rockingham pottery as it was run between 1826 and 1842, creating high quality bone china table ware. The pottery rose to fame when King William VI ordered a huge dinner service containing 200 pieces. It took 600 people 7 years to complete this service, and by the time it was finished the King died. It ended up being used for the first time at the subsequent coronation of Queen Victoria in 1837. In the end, the undertaking, although it brought important business from all British aristocracy, had ruined the pottery and it never recovered. It closed it doors in 1842. This story serves to show the status, artistic sophistication and capacity of the Rockingham pottery in the 1830s. This dog is in "blanc de chine" white porcelain with only a gilt collar, and the face and feet touched up. The dog is seated on a simple Rococo scroll. It has a gilt collar with a little gilt flower in the neck - this means it is a female dog. Note that her head is smaller and legs longer than pugs today; this is how they were bred in the 19th century. The Rockingham pugs have a wonderful melancholic expression in their faces; this one has just a hint of red in the mouth so she looks like she might lick you any moment :-). Pugs were incredibly popular and there was hardly a lady without one, particularly in Britain and the Netherlands. The history to this is that William the Silent...

This is an adorable pair of porcelain pug dog figures, made by Rockingham in circa 1835, which was the late Regency era. Although the Rockingham pottery started some time in the mid-18th century, when we say "Rockingham" it mostly means the Rockingham pottery as it was run between 1826 and 1842, creating high quality bone china table ware. The pottery rose to fame when King William VI ordered a huge dinner service containing 200 pieces. It took 600 people 7 years to complete this service, and by the time it was finished the King died. It ended up being used for the first time at the subsequent coronation of Queen Victoria in 1837. In the end, the undertaking, although it brought important business from all British aristocracy, had ruined the pottery and it never recovered. It closed it doors in 1842. This story serves to show the status, artistic sophistication and capacity of the Rockingham pottery in the 1830s. Each dog is seated on a simple Rococo scroll, one red and one green. They have gilt collars, the slightly larger one with a pink flower in the neck. Upon close inspection, one is a female (the one on the green base) and the other a male (the one on the red base). Note that their heads are smaller and legs longer than pugs today; this is how they were bred in the 19th Century. Pugs were incredibly popular and there was hardly a lady without one, particularly in Britain and the Netherlands. The history to this is that William the Silent...