Worcester Small Lobed Dish, Apple Green, Spotted Fruit James Giles, ca 1770

This is a very rare oval lobed dish from the famous "Earl of Camden" service made by the Derby Porcelain Company in 1795. The service was painted with typical English roses by William Billingsley, one of Britain's most famous painters, and responsible for exactly this type of rose painting on British porcelain. There are more items available in this pattern, see separate listings. To keep these items together we'd be happy to offer a discount on multiple purchases - please ask! The Derby Porcelain Company, later called Royal Crown Derby, is currently the oldest British porcelain factory still in production. The Derby pottery was one of the most prominent potteries right from the start of English porcelain production in the mid 1700s to today, and the factory went through many iterations. In the 1820s, it was called "Bloor Derby" as it came under the ownership of Robert Bloor; this factory later closed but its legacy was continued under the ownership of a group of employees, and later this was merged into a new factory called Royal Crown Derby, which is still in operation today and still carries forward some of the oldest patterns that have made it famous over the centuries. William Billingsley was a brilliant but notoriously difficult man who left behind a trail of debts, broken hearts and mystery - but he was also one of the most important people in the history British porcelain. Billingsley revolutionised the way British decorators painted flowers; he added a freedom and artistry that now singles out British flower painting, and he created a new technique for painting roses, which you can see in this design. Billingsley worked at Derby, Worcester and Mansfield. He also set up his own potteries in Pinxton and Nantgarw and created some of the best porcelain ever made, but racking up great debts, before running off in the dead of night and ending his days at Coalport painting flowers. Items painted by William Billingsley are rare and very much in demand - together with Thomas Baxter's work they are probably among the most desired pieces of British porcelain. The Earl of Camden service was a huge service ordered by Lady Camden in 1795. It had to be produced under great, and unrealistic, time pressure and was notoriously late, much to Lady Camden's chagrin. She wanted the service to be produced by only the best artisans and therefore William Billingsley was tasked with painting all items - but it is thought that when it was clear the deadline was impossible to make, he enlisted the help of John Brewer for some of the last items, such as the ice pails. This plate shows the typical "Billingsley" roses: a beautiful naturally flowing garland of English roses interspersed with buds, trailing around a crisp gilt ribbon. The way the roses link into each other, the way each individual one is completely different, the light effects achieved by rubbing out some of the pink paint, and the very fine buds and foliage all point to these being from Billingsley's hand. This dish came together with a plate that bears labels that point to a rich provenance: the Doris Wheatley Collection, the Daniel Collection, Derek Gardner...

This is a beautiful and intriguing porcelain dish made by Caughley and decorated at Chamberlains Worcester in or shortly after 1793. The dish has a "harlequin" pattern with six diffe...

First Period Worcester Leaf Dish, 1765-1770 These large vine leaf shaped dishes were made as a component within a dessert service to serve sweetme...

This exquisite 18th-century Dutch Delft or Samadet faience barber's bowl showcases a classic lobed shape with a notched rim, traditionally designed for shaving use. The piece is hand-painted in vibrant green with a central floral motif surrounded by delicate foliate designs, accentuated by a decorative border along the scalloped edge. The tin-glazed ceramic surface exhibits the characteristic craquelure and slight imperfections typical of early Delftware. Originally used in barbershops for lathering and rinsing during shaves, this historical faience bowl is now a highly collectible decorative object, perfect for display in a Delftware collection or as a charming accent in a period interior. A remarkable example of Dutch craftsmanship, this piece captures the elegance and functionality of antique Delftware.