Large Chamberlain Worcester Porcelain Bone China Lidded Soup Tureen & Stand Imari Japan pattern 3 piece c 1820 female mask head terminals 41cm L 6pt

A large, very stylish, impressive, useable and highly decorative antique Worcester porcelain bone china lidded soup tureen and stand or underplate. All three items have been hand painted in a Japan or Imari pattern in a very distinctive four "fingered" tree root design in underglaze cobalt blue with green, orange, red, pink enamel with gilding. The unusually shaped peony root has large stylised Oriental looking peony flowers, leaves and stems. Although all items are unmarked we have attributed this tureen by the mask head handle terminals, a distinctive feature that was used by Chamberlains of Worcester, Worcestershire, England. This beautiful antique English porcelain tableware dates to around 1820, the late Regency to George IV period on the early 19th century.

Chamberlains was one of three factories in Worcester at the time, originally set up by in 1783 by Robert Chamberlain, who had been head of the decorating department of Dr Wall's Worcester Tonquin factory, which had become Flight, Barr and Barr in the period when this tureen was made. Flight Barr and Barr later merged with Chamberlains in the 1840s. There also was Grainger Lee and Co of St Martin's Gate, Worcester which had been set up by Thomas Grainger who had been an apprentice to Robert Chamberlain. This factory too was eventually amalgamated with Royal Worcester Company in 1889.

The rounded and ribbed oval shaped tureen stands on four anthemion scroll feet and has shaped inverted U loop handles with gilded female mask head terminals to the ends. The shapes and design features have drawn inspiration from Meissen, Sevres and Vincennes originals of the mid 18th century. This generic footed shape was also made by Derby and Coalport and probably other manufacturers of the period. The high domed lid has an unusual anthemion floral inspired central handle finial. There is a manufactured slot in the side of the lid for a ladle.  The stand or under plate has two integral carrying handles and an inner lipped rim to locate the four feet of the tureen. The stand has the ribbing as seen on the lid and tureen body.

This is an extremely decorative and very attractive antique example of Georgian Imari porcelain of the early 19th century Regency period. We presume that this was either supplied to a large house, restaurant or hotel. The tureen has a maximum capacity of six pints or 3.4 litres enough for about 12 average servings.

The stand and soup tureen base are in good antique condition, no chipping, the lid has a stabilised crack to the lid by the ladle notch, which does not affect its use nor is it very visible when it is in place, the lid finial has been off and has been reattached.  The underplate or stand has stabilised star crack to the base, which is generally disguised by the busy design of the decoration. There is some minor rubbing to the enamel and wear to the gilding commensurate with age and use.  Please see the images. 

A great example for a collector of antique Worcester bone china, porcelain, Imari  or Japan patterns, oriental inspired ceramics or for those who would like to use a large and impressive looking soup tureen. 

Stand or Underplate
Overall Height 2 1/8 inches ( 5.3 cm)
Length 16  inches ( 40.6 cm)
Width 11 inches ( 28.0 cm)
Weight 1.090 kg unpacked

Tureen and Lid 
Overall Height on stand 11 3/16 inches ( 28.4 cm)
Overall Height 10 3/4 inches ( 27.4 cm)
Length 13 5/8 inches ( 34.7 cm)
Width 8 3/4 inches ( 22 cm)
Weight 2.883 kg unpacked

Total Weight 3.973 kg unpacked