Royal Worcester Porcelain

Royal Worcester porcelain jug, dated 1908. The melon shaped jug having a scallop rimmed top, and gilt branch handle. Painted and gilded with sprays of flowers, on a ‘Blush Ivory’ gro...

Royal Worcester porcelain figure, ‘Wales’, dated 1902. From the ‘Countries of the World’ series, modelled by James Hadley, as a young girl w...

Royal Worcester porcelain vase and cover, painted by Charles H. Baldwyn, dated 1902. Finely painted, with five swans flying amongst reeds, on a sky blue ground. The reverse with a sw...

This is a stunning porcelain potpourri vase with a double cover made by Royal Worcester in 1901. It is painted with beautiful orchids against a soft blue background by the famous porcelain artist Frank Roberts. This vase is a beautiful decorative object. Potpourri vases were meant to hold a mix of scented dried flowers and leaves (the potpourri) to freshen the air in the often stuffy Georgian or Victorian homes in a time before vacuum cleaners. The covers are perforated to let the scent out. The original Worcester factory was founded in the mid 18th Century and belongs to the group of famous pioneering potteries in Britain. It went through various changes and take overs, and in the mid 19th Century it merged with Chamberlains and Grainger, both earlier split-offs, taking the new name "Royal Worcester". The factory distinguished itself with its extremely high quality of artwork, hiring the best artists and always coming up with very vivid designs for decorative objects full of flowers, birds and fruits. It was in operation until the early 21st Century but eventually succumbed to the changing times. Today the best 19th Century Royal Worcester pieces are desired collectors' items. This potpourri has a charming pumpkin shape and a cover with a Persian-style spire finial. The rims are set in carmine-red and gilt bands with white "pearls". Interestingly, the pot has a double cover: one to keep the potpourri inside airtight when not in use, and one to let out the scent. The body of the pot is superbly painted with softly hued ferns and orchids by Frank Roberts. Roberts was mostly known for his exceptional warmly coloured fruit paintings, but he also did some superb flower paintings, particularly orchids like the ones on these vases. Roberts was a quiet and religious person who kept to himself, but he had an iconic status among the Worcester painters. He was not only a painter, but was one of the few people who could trace and raise gold, a difficult technique. Ever since Roberts' time at Royal Worcester, apprentices were given his work to copy as part of their training. Roberts was born in 1857 and started working at Royal Worcester in 1872 when he was only 25 years old, until shortly before his death in 1920. The pot carries the green Royal Worcester...

Rare Royal Worcester porcelain ‘Stag’ vase, painted by Harry Stinton, dated 1934. The cylindrical vase, set upon a gilded scroll footrim, and finely pain...

Royal Worcester porcelain figure, modelled by James Hadley, c. 1895. From the ‘Indian Craftsmen’ series, this particular fine example is mod...

Royal Worcester porcelain vase and cover, painted by Harry Stinton, dated 1912. Hand painted to the centre, with an oval gilt beaded panel of Lowland cat...

Stunning hand painted English porcelain Royal Worcester cabinet plate still life of fruits, hand decorated by Albert Shuck, of outstandi...

A large Royal Worcester porcelain ‘Flower Bowl’, dated 1912. The ‘Blush ivory’ decorated bowl modelled in Renaissance style, as a lar...

This is a beautiful vase made by Royal Worcester in 1901, painted with fruits and flowers and signed by the famous porcelain artist William Hawkins. ...

A large Royal Worcester porcelain pot pourri and cover, dated 1913. Hand painted with a spray of roses, within heavily moulded borders, and above a continuo...

Royal Worcester porcelain plate, exceptionally well painted by Charles Henry Clifford Baldwyn, dated 1908. The shaped plate, finely painted to the centre, with two birds perched on b...