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THE HOPE SERVICE
Commissioned by the Duke of Clarence, later William IV (1765-1830) in January 1790, the entire Hope Service, of which the following three lots are a part, took a year to produce and cost 700. Its production proved to be decisive for the Worcester factory, helping to establish its reputation as a manufacturer under Royal patronage after what had been a difficult period. The commission was won in competition against Derby. The Duke selected the design from five samples provided by John Flight. Four of these were painted with figures en grisaille by John Pennington, of whom little is known. Related to the family of Liverpool porcelain manufacturers of the same name, he had been employed at the Wedgwood decorating workshops in London, prior to being taken on by John Flight to replace the recently departed and previously most important decorators, the Chamberlains. His early work is generally characterized by figure-painting in monochrome, this commission probably the high point of his career.
The later erroneous and romantic association of the service with Admiral Lord Nelson was perhaps prompted by the somewhat nautical appearance of the decoration, which, although iconographically typical of late 18th Century representations of Hope, came to be viewed in the 19th Century as being portraits of Lady Hamilton. This association was then reinforced when at the Christie's sale of 1839 the service was proclaimed as being that which had belonged to Nelson, this information having been derived from Lord Frederick Fitz Clarence's will.
In addition to the later provenance individually noted in lots 518-520, the service's early provenance is as follows:
H.R.H. William Henry, Duke of Clarence, later H.M. King William IV, thence by descent to:
Lord Frederick Fitz Clarence.
William George, 18th Earl Erroll.
Charles, 20th Earl of Erroll, sale Christie's 11th May 1893, lots 104-165.
THREE WORCESTER (FLIGHT) LARGE OVAL PLATTERS FROM THE 'HOPE' SERVICE
CIRCA 1792, BLUE CROWNED SCRIPT FLIGHT AND OPEN CRESCENT MARKS, PAINTED BY JOHN PENNINGTON
Details
THREE WORCESTER (FLIGHT) LARGE OVAL PLATTERS FROM THE 'HOPE' SERVICE
CIRCA 1792, BLUE CROWNED SCRIPT FLIGHT AND OPEN CRESCENT MARKS, PAINTED BY JOHN PENNINGTON
Each painted en grisaille with a central cartouche of a figure allegorical of Hope at the water's edge, looking out to sea, an anchor at her side, the underglaze-blue borders gilt with paterae, stars and dots beneath shaped gilt rims.
17¼ in. (43.8 cm.) long (3)
CIRCA 1792, BLUE CROWNED SCRIPT FLIGHT AND OPEN CRESCENT MARKS, PAINTED BY JOHN PENNINGTON
Each painted en grisaille with a central cartouche of a figure allegorical of Hope at the water's edge, looking out to sea, an anchor at her side, the underglaze-blue borders gilt with paterae, stars and dots beneath shaped gilt rims.
17¼ in. (43.8 cm.) long (3)
Provenance
Lady Wheeler-Bennett, widow of Sir John W. Wheeler-Bennett,
formerly of Garsington, near Oxford, England.
By descent to her niece.
See note to previous lot
formerly of Garsington, near Oxford, England.
By descent to her niece.
See note to previous lot