Shelley "Dainty White" Tête-à-Tête Porcelain Tea Service, 1910-1966

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Shelley "Dainty White" Tête-à-Tête Porcelain Tea Service, 1910-1966

About the Item

This is a very charming "tête-à-tête" tea service serving two, made by Shelley. The items are from different periods, all between 1910 and 1966. The service is made in the popular "Dainty white" style, which was first designed by Shelley's predecessor Wileman in 1891, and was produced until well into the 1960s. The set consists of a very sweet little teapot on a stand, two teacups and saucers, two little cake or sandwich plates, a milk jug and sugar bowl, and a large cake or sandwich plate. A "tête-à-tête" service is a little tea service for just two people - "tête-à-tête" is a French term for an intimate conversation. These sets are also called breakfast sets. Shelley was one of the most respected potters in Staffordshire in the 20th Century and these sets are real collectors' items. The "Dainty White' design is wonderfully romantic yet down to earth; there are no decorations other than the sweetly scalloped and fluted surface of the porcelain. The porcelain itself is very thin and incredibly white. This design is great with any interior design taste; it goes well in traditional, rustic or modern styles. It would therefore make a perfect wedding gift as you can't go wrong with this! All items are marked with the green Shelley marks; they are from different periods, all between 1910 and 1966. Condition Report The set is in excellent condition with only one small flaw: the sugar bowl has a very tight crack in the wall. It is still absolutely fine to use for sugar. Other than this there is no damage, repairs, crazing or even wear. Antique British porcelain is never perfect. Kilns were fired on coal in the 1800s, and this meant that china from that period can have some firing specks from flying particles. British makers were also known for their experimentation, and sometimes this resulted in technically imperfect results. Due to the shrinkage in the kiln, items can have small firing lines or develop crazing over time, which should not be seen as damage but as an imperfection of the maker's recipes, probably unknown at the time of making. Items have often been used for many years and can have normal signs of wear, and gilt can have signs of slight disintegration even if never handled. I will reflect any damage, repairs, obvious stress marks, crazing or heavy wear in the item description but some minor scratches, nicks, stains and gilt disintegration can be normal for vintage items and need to be taken into account. There is widespread confusion on the internet about the difference between chips and nicks, or hairlines and cracks. I will reflect any damage as truthfully as I can, i.e. a nick is a tiny bit of damage smaller than 1mm and a chip is something you can easily see with the eye; a glazing line is a break in the glazing only; hairline is extremely tight and/or superficial and not picked up by the finger; and a crack is obvious both to the eye and the finger. Dimensions (diameters): teapot measures 19cm (7.5") from spout to handle and stands 14.5cm (5.75") high incl. finial, cups 8.8cm (3.4"), saucers 14.5cm (5.75"), side plates 16.5cm (6.4"), milk jug stands 6.5cm (2.5") high and measures 11cm (4.25") from handle to mouth, sugar bowl 5cm (2") high and 8.5cm (3.4") in diameter, cake plate 23cm (9") diameter.

Creator:
Shelley Pottery (Maker)
Dimensions:
Height: 1 in (2.54 cm)Width: 1 in (2.54 cm)Depth: 1 in (2.54 cm)
Sold As:
Set of 12
Style:
Art Nouveau (In the Style Of)
Materials and Techniques:
Porcelain
Place of Origin:
England
Period:
20th Century
Date of Manufacture:
1910-1966
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use. In excellent condition. Sugar bowl has a tight crack in the wall, but fine to use.
Seller Location:
London, GB
Reference Number:
Seller: W-SHE12a1stDibs: LU4805124128162