Judith Miller on collecting Chelsea Porcelain

Chelsea was Britain’s leading porcelain circa 1743, and is still coveted today, says Judith Miller.

The first successful British porcelain factory was founded at Chelsea in the mid 1740s by Huguenot silversmith Nicholas Sprimont; most periods in the brand’s 40-year history are known by the marks used during each design phase. With Sprimont’s background, it’s no surprise that echoes of British silverware can be seen in early Chelsea pieces from the Triangle Period. However, the Raised Anchor Period that followed saw a move away from the influence of silver as porcelain became more robust; the glaze also changed: the addition of tin oxide gave it a silkier feel. Popular decorative schemes included copies of Japanese Kakiemon wares and Meissen-style European landscapes.

ABOVE (left-right): Hans Sloane plate with a branch of Pink Siris, c1755, £3,500-£4,500; Hob in the Well dish, c1752- 1755, £350-£450.

The introduction of innovative styles, alongside further copies of Meissen, arrived with the Red Anchor Period in the early to mid 1750s; during this time, Chelsea became famous for its dessert table settings and decoration of fruit, flowers, plants and animals; delicately painted insects are also a typical feature, and were often used to cover imperfections and faults. Chelsea’s botanical designs were named after Hans Sloane, a noted scientist who, some 40 years previously, bought four acres of land and leased it to the Society of Apothecaries to extend Chelsea Physic Garden. The company also made small ‘toys’ (tiny scent bottles) and figures by the Flemish modeller Joseph Willems.

ABOVE (left-right): Bust of Columbine toy, c1760, £5,000- £6,000; One of a pair of exotic bird plates, c1765, £700-£1,000.

During the Gold Anchor Period of the late 1750s and most of the following decade, the French factories of Vincennes and then Sèvres became the dominant influences, with a strong Rococo style and increased gilding. In 1769, a Derby porcelain firm (later awarded the name Crown Derby, whose owners included William Duesbury, a former painter at Chelsea) bought the works and continued production for the following 15 years until its closure in 1784; this period is known as Chelsea-Derby.

ABOVE (left-right): Spiral-lobed teabowl, c1752-1756, £400-£500.

Notes for collectors

• Triangle Period: c1744-1749
• Raised Anchor Period: c1749-1752
• Red Anchor Period: c1752-1756
• Gold Anchor Period: c1756-1769
• Chelsea-Derby: 1769-1784
• Buyers of porcelain should always check the quality and provenance of a piece, as there are many fakes on the market.
• As well as individual designs, factory marks have been forged, so relying on these may not always be enough to guarantee authenticity.
• Damage should be avoided, as this invariably lowers a piece’s value.
• It is always best to buy from a reputable source that is happy to supply detailed receipts. To find an antiques dealer in your area, visit antiques-directory.co.uk.

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WORDS JUDITH MILLER PHOTOGRAPHS WOOLLEY & WALLIS, SWORDERS, DREWEATTS
All estimates correct at time of publishing
Featured in the January 2012 issue of Period Living

Buy Judith Miller’s Antiques Handbook & Price Guide 2012-2013