Date: circa 1865
Period: Mid-Victorian
Maker: T.C. Brown-Westhead, Moore & Co.
The new monied classes of mid-Victorian England were keen to emulate the taste and refinement of the aristocracy, and where better to find inspiration than in that jewel of ancien régime France, the royal porcelain factory of Sèvres? One of the most luxurious objects made at Sèvres was the so-called cabaret or déjeuner tea set for the personal use of a courtier or member of the royal family, and most probably used in the intimate setting of the boudoir. The sets were either solitaire, for one person, or tête-à-tête, for two.
This too is certainly one of the most opulent and exquisite products of the large Victorian pottery T.C. Brown-Westhead, Moore, scintillating under both natural and artificial light. We can identify the maker thanks to elements of the pattern, such as the gilt Greek key borders and the printed chains of flower heads, as well as the letter prefixes to the pattern numbers painted on the bases.
We say pattern numbers because, confusingly, there are two: ‘C2458’ on the base of the tray, and ‘F1363’ on the bottoms of the tea wares. (Brown-Westhead, Moore used the ‘F’ prefix for ‘miscellaneous’ while ‘C’ was for their first series of ‘tea and breakfast wares.’)
There are other reasons why we believe this set to be a unique prototype that never went into production, perhaps because of manufacturing difficulties and expense. There are a few flaws, which we list under Condition. Moulding on the teacups, discernible near the handle, is also not highlighted in gilt, unlike with the other pieces.
The tray has a lozenge shape with undulating sides. The border has a Greek key pattern in gilt, and there are moulded leaves and flower heads, accented in gilt, emerging from rustic handles. The duck-egg ground resembles that of a Minton cabinet plate from the same era (click on link). The printed flower chain is similar to that found on some Brown-Westhead, Moore teawares. The main pattern elements are repeated on the teapot, milk jug, sucrier and teacups. The lids of the teapot and sucrier lids have knops of rustic loops with foliate and twig bases.
Condition: Very good/excellent. The only discernible signs of wear are a patch of rubbing – probably from cleaning – to three thin gilt lines around the rim of the teapot lid (see photograph), plus a few fine surface scratches on the tray and saucers. From manufacture, there is some mustard-coloured staining to the duck-egg blue ground. This is most noticeable around handle joints and moulded leaves and flower heads on the teapot and sucrier. There is a tiny firing crack on a moulded stem near the upper join of the teapot handle (see photograph).
Tray length: 44.2 cm; width: 33.7 cm
Teapot height: 13 cm; width incl. spout & handle: 16.8 cm
Milk jug/creamer height: 8.2 cm; width incl. spout & handle: 9.7 cm
Sucrier height: 11.7 cm; width between handles: 11.6 cm
Teacups height: 4.2 cm; rim diameter: 9.4 cm; width incl. handle: 10.7 cm
Saucers diameter: 13.1 cm
Net weight: 3,061g (3.061kg)
Medium: Bone china (porcelain)
Origin: Stoke on Trent, England
Customers should note that shipment will be via DHL
See Brown-Westhead, Moore & Cauldon in Makers & Artists for background on the factory.
