Lot Essay
The 1755 Chelsea sale catalogue under the second day's sale, lot 18 mentions '... four rabbits for desart'. The entry likely refers to examples of the present model, confirming their use in an 18th century English dessert service.
See F. Severne Mackenna, Chelsea Porcelain, The Red Anchor Wares, Leigh-on-Sea, 1951, pl. 35, no. 70 for a similar pair in the Tufnell Collection. See also 50 Years of Collecting the Decorative Arts of Georgian England; Christie's King Street, 14 May 2003,lots 230 and 231 for two others numbered 154 and 294 respectively. These had been purchased in London in the 1970's and 1980's through Christie's. These two and the present example would appear to be the only leveret tureens to appear on the art market in nearly fifty years.
See F. Severne Mackenna, Chelsea Porcelain, The Red Anchor Wares, Leigh-on-Sea, 1951, pl. 35, no. 70 for a similar pair in the Tufnell Collection. See also 50 Years of Collecting the Decorative Arts of Georgian England; Christie's King Street, 14 May 2003,lots 230 and 231 for two others numbered 154 and 294 respectively. These had been purchased in London in the 1970's and 1980's through Christie's. These two and the present example would appear to be the only leveret tureens to appear on the art market in nearly fifty years.