Irish Porcelain

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...

Stunning Antique KPM Royal Berlin porcelain neoclassical white and gilt centerpiece bowl on stand. Perfect for fruit display as a lovely plant...

A gorgeous antique 19th-Century Japanese Imari porcelain vase. This fine vase is a nice large size and has a lovely shape and hand painted floral design in the traditional Imari...

A fine pair of 19th century Imari porcelain vases, the bodies of ribbed form and with blue glazed dragons, modelled in relief, upon a...

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...

These elegant colorful antiques vases were created in China circa 1870. Standing on platform brass bases, the large vessels feature a flared rim and tapered body. Each body is decora...

An Exceptionally Fine Quality Irish Belleek Porcelain Pleated and Flared Trumpet formed Centerpiece of museum quality. Third black mark for 1926 to 1946 The main flaired body above...

This is a very charming coffee cup trio made by Belleek in the Shamrock design, consisting of a coffee cup, a saucer and a little cake plate. It has the 2nd Black Mark, which was used between 1891 and 1926. Given the quality of the porcelain we think the date of production is probably closer to 1891 than 1926. 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...

Limoges porcelain pillow vase the perfect answer to decorating a narrow space, such as mantel place. Hand-painted floral and Cacti decoration. The handles...

A Belleek four-strand oval basket 20th century Oval basket with a waved loop rim applied with sprigs of flowers, impressed banner mark. Note: Restoration to four loops, as i...

19th century pair of German polychrome porcelain vases Measurements: cm H 86,5 x W 35 x D 31; base cm 31 x 31 blue color mark This delightful ...

Originally this pair of elegant oval-shaped Paris porcelain pierced baskets (corbeilles) were used in a table setting to hold fruit. Their timeless beauty will enhance any room. Th...