CIRCA 1791-2, MARKED FLIGHT IN SCRIPT WITH A CROWN ABOVE AND CRESCENT BELOW

Details

A Worcester (Flight) bowl from the Duke of Clarence or 'Hope' service
Circa 1791-2, marked Flight in script with a crown above and crescent below
Of lobed fluted form, the centre painted en grisaille with a circular cartouche of a figure allegorical of Hope as a classically-draped maiden with one hand to her breast and the other extended, standing on a shore, an anchor beside her, a ship on a stormy sea in the distance, beneath a broad underglaze-blue-ground border gitl with paterae and false gadroons on a ground gilt with dots and stars (slight wear to gilt rim)
10 3/8 in. (26.5 cm.) diam.

Special notice

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Lot Essay

The celebrated 'Hope' service was commissioned by the Duke of Clarence, later William IV, in January 1790, and was completed just over a year later. It later passed to Elizabeth FitzClarence, his daughter, who married the 18th Earl of Errol, and was sold by his descendant, the 20th Earl, at Christie's on the 11th May 1893, lots 104-165. Since dispersed, parts of the service occasionally come to light, the larger part most recently having been sold again at Christie's, 24th February 1997, lot 65. Latterly, the service was erronously thought to have been commissioned for Nelson, probably because the figures of Hope, which show her in varying poses, were probably considered to be depictions of Lady Hamilton adopting her famous 'attitudes'.

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