CIRCA 1871, GILT AMPERSAND MARK, THE PAINTED DECORATION ATTRIBUTED TO JOHN RANDALL

Compare Christies, New York, 26 October 2004, lot 79. See G.A. Godden, Coalport and Coalbrookdale Porcelains, New York, 1970, p. 122, fig. 204 for a similarly painted pair and fig. 233 for a line drawing of a similar vase illustrated by Jewitt and exhibited in the International Exhibition of 1871. Also see M. Messenger, Coalport 1795-1926, Woodbridge, England, 1995, p. 35, pl. 31 for a similar pink-ground vase executed by Randall with a variant gilded key-pattern foot. Please also note that Coalport artists 'were not allowed to sign their work until later in the century, however Randall's birds became famous in their day as had William Billingsley's roses a generation before.' See G.A. Godden, Victorian Porcelain, New York, 1961, p. 38-39, fig. 10.