Lot Essay
This service, which is unusual in that each piece is enamelled with a different central scene, was known as 'Palace ware' in the early 20th century and more recently as 'Rockefeller' pattern after Governor Nelson Rockefeller, who possessed a particularly fine and complete service. Andrew John Drummond, a General in the East India Company, also commissioned a service of this pattern for his family.
Several pieces from this service, including a tureen and cover very similar to the present lot, are illustrated by Michel Beurdeley and Guy Raindre, op.cit., 1987, pl.241, p.171. A sauce-tureen from the Mottahedeh Collection is illustrated by D.S. Howard and J. Ayers, op.cit., vol.I, 1978, vol.I, no.187, p.188, together with a plate as no.188. Pieces from the John D. Rockefeller Jr. Collection are illustrated by J. A. Lloyd Hyde, op.cit., 1964, pl. IX, no.16; and a dessert plate from the Hodroff Collection is illustrated by David S. Howard, op.cit., 1994, no.147, pp.138 and 139.
A large part dinner, tea and coffee service of this design belonging to Colonel William Stirling of Keir House, Scotland, was sold in these Rooms, 5 December 1977, lot 324 (colour frontispiece); and another service sold in these Rooms, 13 May 1996, lots 165-171.
Several pieces from this service, including a tureen and cover very similar to the present lot, are illustrated by Michel Beurdeley and Guy Raindre, op.cit., 1987, pl.241, p.171. A sauce-tureen from the Mottahedeh Collection is illustrated by D.S. Howard and J. Ayers, op.cit., vol.I, 1978, vol.I, no.187, p.188, together with a plate as no.188. Pieces from the John D. Rockefeller Jr. Collection are illustrated by J. A. Lloyd Hyde, op.cit., 1964, pl. IX, no.16; and a dessert plate from the Hodroff Collection is illustrated by David S. Howard, op.cit., 1994, no.147, pp.138 and 139.
A large part dinner, tea and coffee service of this design belonging to Colonel William Stirling of Keir House, Scotland, was sold in these Rooms, 5 December 1977, lot 324 (colour frontispiece); and another service sold in these Rooms, 13 May 1996, lots 165-171.