Grainger Worcester Porcelain Hamilton Fluted Tea Set Pattern 195 c 1810 - teapot & stand,creamer,basin,2 plates,6 tea cups,6 coffee cans,12 saucers

A beautiful and very usable antique hybrid hard paste porcelain tea set by Grainger of Worcester. This very desirable tea and coffee service is decorated with a simple cobalt blue band and gilded grapevines on Hamilton flute shaped tea cups, coffee cans and saucers with a gilded central floral star. 

This service has no makers mark although one saucer has the pattern number 195 painted underneath. George III was the monarch on the throne at the time this tea set was made at the start of the nineteenth century, dating from around 1810. Some collectors refer to this as the late Georgian period and others as the Regency period.

The teapot is in the Hamilton fluted new oval shape, has an asymmetrical pouring guard, a short round spout, and a fourteen hole lozenge shaped strainer. It is very similar to the Chamberlain Worcester version but, the upper handle terminal is closer to the body and the spout slightly shorter. (Ref 1 & 2). The creamer is in the fluted deep oval shape. (ref 3). The tea cups are Hamilton flute shaped with large ring handles. The coffee cans are faceted straight sided with large ring handles. (Ref 4).

All items are decorated with a simple under-glaze cobalt blue band which is approximately 5/8 inch deep with gilded grapevines. The centre of tea cups, saucers, teapot stand and plates have a floral star device and gilding to the handles.

The set consists of: a teapot and cover, teapot stand, milk jug or creamer, slop basin, two plates or saucer dishes 8 1/2 inches diameter, six tea cups, six coffee cans and twelve saucers, a total of 31 items.

Thomas Grainger who had been an apprentice at Robert Chamberlain’s Worcester factory along with his partner John Wood, established porcelain company in Lowesmore, Worcester , Worcestershire, England, in 1801 in order to compete with the company for whom they had previously worked. Like Giles and Chamberlain before them, they started out by decorating blank porcelain made by other factories. By 1804 they were advertising the decoration of porcelain in local newspapers and had opened a shop in Worcester Forgate Street by 1806.

Grainger & Wood started to manufacture their own porcelain by 1807 and soon gained a good reputation for both useful and ornamental wares. Rich patterns such as Japanese style Imari and fine tea wares posed serious competition for the Chamberlain and Barr, Flight & Barr factories in the city. Following a factory fire in 1809 a new factory was built at St Martin’s Gate. (Ref 5).

The set weighs a total 4.8 kg unpacked and is in excellent antique and very usable condition.There is some minor rubbing to the gilding on some items. Some minor fritting commensurate with this body. The rim of  the of the teapot has a tiny disguised chip. One saucer has a short crack to the rim and two have hairlines, one coffee can has a crack to the ring handle. Four of the saucers are slightly larger in diameter than the other eight. All other items have no chips cracks nor restoration.

This is a beautiful and very elegant set in fantastic condition and over 210 years old. They make great display items and are very suitable for careful use if so desired. This set will be of interest to any collector of antique porcelain, Worcester porcelain, Thomas Grainger Worcester or hybrid hard paste collectors. If you would like to see more images please message us.

Free UK postage with this item when purchased at the listed price, international postage at cost. Please message or a shipping quotation. Further images can be supplied if required.

References

1. Plate 1002 page 167 of A Directory of British Teapots, by Michael Berthoud and Richard Maskell.

2. Plate 977 page 163 of A Directory of British Teapots, by Michael Berthoud and Richard Maskell.

3. Plate 459 page 77 of A Cabinet of British Creamers, by Michael Berthoud.

4. Plate 156 page 26 of A Compendium of British Cups, by Michael Berthoud.

5. See the excellent website of the Museum of Royal Worcester