Maker: John Yates
Period: Regency
The fine quality and style of decoration of this unmarked Regency tureen stand lead us to believe it to be the work of Staffordshire potter John Yates.
It is decorated in a version of the popular ‘841’ pattern, named originally after a class of porcelains from the short-lived factory of Ralph and James Clews that bore that number. Variations of the ‘841’ were made by several Staffordshire factories in the 1820s.
The deeply scalloped blue border, with and undulating edge, and inset with buttermilk panels containing a stylised gilt flower and anthemion, are all standard elements of the 841. So too are the gilt key frets, stars, circles and scrolls in the blue ground, and the lines of gilt dots along the wavy edge and the complex gilt sprays that descend from it. A variety of paintings appear in the centre of 841 porcelains. The Clews versions feature paintings of rural figures, or scenes from Dr. Syntax. Other factories chose to populate the centre with hand-painted flowers, as with this Yates tureen stand, where the quality of painting of the flower painting is of typically high standard.
The base of the stand is thickly potted and spiral-moulded, and the top has a raised ridge to hold the base of the tureen. It appears never to have been used, for there is not a single blemish or sign of wear.
Condition Perfect
Diameter: 17 cm Height: 2.6 cm
Net weight: 314 g
Medium: Bone china (porcelain)
Origin: Shelton, Hanley, Staffordshire Potteries (Stoke-on-Trent), England.
