Minton White and Gilt Bone China Paris Flute Cabaret Set Pattn 3419 1850

An exquisite Minton "Paris Flute" bone china cabaret set for two consisting of two cups and saucers, a milk jug, sucrier and cover and large oval two handled tray from the Victorian era, circa 1850, These sets are sometimes referred to as Tete a Tete. The base of the main items are impressed with the registered design diamond mark for class four (earthenware) parcel 7, for 13th April 1850. This relates to the registered design number 68797 taken out by the  Proprietor: Minton and Company of Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire for a cup and saucer. The  record detail are online at the UK record office (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/registered-designs-1839-1991/) reference BT 43/65/68797.

The vertically moulded ribbing is called ‘Paris flute’ after the Sèvres factory outside Paris. These items are of beautiful quality with simple gilded decoration to the Minton pattern number 3419 in a very stylish and sophisticated design. The pattern number is hand painted in red under each item along with the decorator's number 2. The handles on the tray are on the form of twisted rose branches with low relief moulded leaf terminals , the borders of which are picked out in gilding. There are date cyphers on some of the items that relate to 1856 and 1857.

All the items are in excellent condition, looking unused, however the handle of the jug has two stress fractures. There is no teapot with this set. Please see the images.

This is a great item for any collector of English  19th century porcelain,  and a very usable and elegant  cabaret set of  cups and saucers .

Cup Height 2 1/2 inches ( 6.3 cm)
Cup diameter 3 inches ( 7.5 cm)
Saucer Diameter 5 11/2 inches (14 cm)
Tray Length 17 3/4 inches (45 cm)
Total weight 2715 grammes unpacked.