Large Belleek Tea Service, Harp Shape, 3rd BM 1926-1946

This is a rare and gorgeous Belleek cabaret tea service, or dejeuner set, in the famous Shamrock design, consisting of a teapot, two teacups and saucers, a milk jug, a sugar bowl, and a salt and pepper, all placed on a large matching tray. It is extremely rare to come across an entire cabaret set of these antique items, particularly when in such good condition, so this is a rare opportunity! 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...

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...

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...

This is a beautiful and very rare Belleek cabaret set in the Grass design, consisting of a teapot, two teacups and saucers, a milk jug and a lidded sugar bowl, all placed on a large tray. All items carry the 1st Black Mark, which was used between 1863 and 1891. It is extremely rare to come across an entire cabaret set of these antique items, particularly when in such fabulous condition, so this is a rare opportunity! 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...

This is a beautiful and extremely rare tea service made by Derby in about 1785. The set has the distinctive "artichoke" moulding and a bright turquoise ground with the white artichok...

This is a stunning tea service made by New Hall in circa 1795. The service is made of hybrid hard paste porcelain and decorated in a bold Chinoiserie pattern of large flower sprays. The service consists of a teapot with cover, a milk jug, a slop bowl, and six tea bowls with saucers. This service has provenance; it came from the collection of David Redstone, the well known porcelain expert who wrote leading books on Bow and Chelsea porcelain. The New Hall factory started as a cooperative of several Staffordshire potters making use of the porcelain license of Bristol Porcelain...

Porcelain tea service, 1900 Porcelain tea service with battle decoration signed and marked, in the Napoleon Bonaparte style, 1900 Measures: H: ...

Consisting of pot, sugar, creamer (restored), two trays and six cups and saucers. Delicately gilded on an ivory ground.

Le Tallec, France. Tea service on a large tray consisting of a teapot, sugar bowl and creamer on a round tray. Engraved and painted with gold leaf by hand. Approx. 1930s. Appears ...

Bing & Grøndahl Empire tea service for five people. Consisting of five teacups (108 and 473) with saucers and five plates. The teacup measures: 10...

Set of porcelain de Paris coffee & tea service - eighteen (18) pieces. Made famous during the Napoleon Period 1795 - 1830
Coffee pot - W - 8"; H - 10"
Te...

Rosenthal, a tea service for ten people. Including ten teacups with matching saucers. Hand-painted with purple flowers. 1920/30s. In perfect condition. First factory quality. ...