CIRCA 1845, PUCE PRINTED MARKS INCORPORATING RETAILER'S MARK OF SPARKS, BREAD STREET, WORCESTER

Details

A Coalport crested composite harlequin part dessert-service
Circa 1845, puce printed marks incorporating retailer's mark of SPARKS, Bread Street, Worcester
Painted in the Sèvres style, perhaps by T.M. Randall with a central bouquet, the green and pink borders reserved with panels of exotic birds and with the crest of a chained portcullis beneath a coronet, within gilt c-scroll and foliage cartouches and gilt-line rims, the turquoise and dark-blue bordered pieces without cartouches but with elaborate meandering gilt foliage and flowering tendrils, comprising:

Two three-tier stands with gilt foliage ring handles supported on elaborate scroll-moulded tripod bases (one stem damaged); two pierced navette-shaped baskets (one with damage to long side of basket, both stems bolted to baskets); two circular sauce-tureens, covers and stands, with gilt berried branch finials; four high tazzas (one stem bolted, the turquoise example stained and with rubbing to rim); four low tazzas (two with stems bolted, one with associated rim chips to top of stem, one with extended firing crack to centre); four shaped square dishes (one chipped, two with slight rubbing to ground colour); four shaped oval dishes (the turquoise example slightly stained, minor rubbing to ground colour); twenty-six plates (three riveted, one cracked, four with a chip to rim, the turquoise ground-colour stained, some rubbing to gilt and enamels)

Special notice

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.

Lot Essay

The Crest is that of Somerset.

John Sparks (1804-74) opened his independent decorating studio and retail outlet in 1834. An advertisement in the 1851 Worcester directory states: 'The Nobility, Clergy and Gentry, are respectfully informed that orders are taken at this establishment for services got up with Arms, Crests, Mottos (sic.) &c., on the most reasonable charges - Crests from sixpence each.'

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