The production of Derby porcelain dates from the first half of the 18th century, although the authorship and the exact start of the production remains today as a matter of conjecture. The oldest remaining pieces in the late 19th century bore only the words «Darby» and «Darbishire» and the years 1751-2-3 as proof of place and year of manufacture. More important is the fact that the production of porcelain in Derby predates the commencement of the works of William Duesbury, started in 1756 when he joined Andrew Planche and John Heath to create the Nottingham Road factory, which later became the Royal Crown Derby. Incised mark of Derby porcelain c1800. Reference: Bemrose, William (1898). Bow, Chelsea, and Derby Porcelain. London: Bemrose & Sons, Ltd. pp. vi.
A Royal Crown Derby Old Imari pattern cased coffee set
Dated 1967
Comprising six coffee cans and six saucers, within a presentation box bearing the date 1967, red printed factory marks, pattern 1128. Sold for £187 at Bonhams
TWO CHELSEA-DERBY PORCELAIN RETICULATED EEL-TRAP VASES EMBLEMATIC OF ‘WATER’
CIRCA 1765, GOLD ANCHOR MARKS TO REVERSE, PATCH MARKS
Each modelled as an oviform eel basket resting on rocky ground, the everted mouth and angled shoulder pierced, with bulrushes forming the handles, the base applied with pairs of ducks
10 3/8 in. (26.4 cm.) high. Sold for GBP 3,250 at Christie’s
A SUPERB DERBY PORCELAIN PERFUME BOTTLE AND STOPPER, a striped cat pursuing two turtle doves up a tree, the base with a seal of a prancing horse and angel, 7cms long, in a shaped leather case.
Provenance: MOTARD, ROUEN 1991. Sold for £3,400 at John Nicholson Auctioneers
A Derby porcelain bough pot and pierced cover, circa 1797-1800
with serpent handles, painted probably by George Robertson with ‘A Shipwreck’ in a panel flanked by two further panels of sailing boats, painted marks in blue (2)
26.5cm., 10½in. wide.
Sold for 5,625 GBP at Sotheby
Statuette of a youth standing in front of a short tree-trunk. He wears a pink coat and flowered breeches, and is hiding his face behind a garland of flowers; at his sides hang a water-bottle and a satchel. Circular base on which is an applied primula plant.
Derby Factory. 1800-1848 (made). Victorian and Albert Museum
From the book Bow, Chelsea, and Derby Porcelain by William Bemrose (1898):
1, 2, 3 – Earliest Derby Marks, generally in blue (some examples are known where the Crown and D are used separately, probably an oversight by the workmen).
4 – Crossed swords, crown, and D, and 6 dots, carefully painted in blue, later in puce, used from about 1782.
5, 6 – Ditto, less carefully painted in red.
7, 8, 9, 10 – Later Duesbury Marks, generally in red.
11 – Duesbury & Kean, seldom used, circa 1795 to 1809.
12, 13, 14, 15 – Bloor Marks, commence 1811 to 1849.
16, 17, 18, 19 – Quasi Oriental Marks used on several occasions in matching, and to use up seconds stock by Bloor. No. 17 is an imitation of the Sèvres mark.
20 – Dresden Mark, often used on figures.
21 – Derby Mark, supposed to have been used by Holdship when at Derby, about 1766. Rare.
22 – Stephenson & Hancock, King Street Factory, 1862, same mark used afterwards by Sampson Hancock, and now in use, 1897.
23 – Mark used by the Derby Crown Porcelain Co., Osmaston Road, from its establishment in 1877 to Dec., 1889.
24 – This Mark adopted by the above Co. when Her Majesty granted the use of the prefix “Royal” on 3 January 1890.
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