Chelsea Porcelain - Softcover

Adams, Elizabeth

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0714128066 ISBN 13: 9780714128061

Publisher: British Museum Press, 2001

Synopsis

Some of the most delightful English porcelain ever made was manufactured in the middle of the eighteenth century at a factory in Chelsea set up two Frenchmen, the jeweller Charles Gouyn and the silversmith Nicholas Sprimont. Sprimont's enterprise - and the skill of the craftsmen he employed - helped to establish English soft paste alongside the great European porcelain manufactures of Meissen and Sevres; and the figures and wares he produced now fetch thousands of pounds at auction. Elizabeth Adams charts the progress of Sprimont's venture and describes in detail the wares now known as Chelsea. Meticulous research into contemporary manuscripts and catalogues has enabled her to reconstruct the history of the Chelsea porcelain factory, from its setting up in c. 1744 to its final destruction in 1784, some fifteen years after Sprimont himself ceased to be associated with it. She describes Sprimont's wares and figures in the order of the marks - Triangle, Raised Anchor and Gold Anchor - that distinguish their production, and provides a detailed account of the styles, decoration and colours used at each period, together with the names of most of those craftsmen who have been identified. The combination of history and catalogue detail, together with over 200 illustrations, enables the reader to appreciate fully Sprimont's achievement and identify individual pieces. Chelsea collectors, English porcelain enthusiasts and lovers of beautiful objects will all appreciate this well-documented record of an art form that fascinates by its fragility, scarcity and brilliance.

About this title

About the Author:

An eminent historian of ceramics, Elizabeth Adams is the author of Mason Porcelain and Ironstone (with Reginald Haggar) and Bow Porcelain (with Dr David Redstone). She has also written numerous articles for such magazines as Apollo, Ceramics and Collectors' Guide and she lectures widely

About this edition

• Publisher: British Museum Press
• Publication date: 2001
• ISBN 10: 0714128066
• ISBN 13: 9780714128061
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 208