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 The
porcelain origins from China and we know the place to be rich in ‘china' clay. However,
it was in England when in 1796 Josiah Spode, the founder of Spode Company,
developed the recipe of English china when he replaced china clay with the
powder of burnt bone. By the way, bone china is deemed to be the high quality
china due to it fluffiness and intense colors.
Some art pieces
of work by the English craftsmen were loved by titlists to the extent the
manufacture itself was granted permission to include the title
"Royal" in the company name in 1890 by Victoria, the Queen. Thus, it
happened to Royal Crown Derby.
The history
of Royal Crown Derby China dates from 1750 when Andrew Planche, the Huguenot, founded
the first china works in Derby. The superb works of him were so greatly admired
by William Duesbury, who finally became the business partner to Andrew and
consequently, the manufacturer of the brand officially registered in 1755.
As its
early works, Royal Crown Derby started manufacture of dinnerware styled Meisan
and Chelsea. Afterwards, Duesbury improved the work of the factory to the
extent that in 1769 Chelsea gradually transferred to Derby with issue of
figures styled chinoiserie and rococo, namely shepherds, mythological Goddess
and wild animals.
Typical of
the period are the lavishly decorated Japan, or Imari, patterns of Royal Crown
Derby ware whose deserved popularity continues in various forms to the present
day. The pattern was made in Japanese style, in red and black, embroidered in 22-karate
gold, which was taken as the base for thousands of modern decoration styles.
Flowery patterns
on caps, dishes and tea sets depicting the flowers in details exactly
replicating the illustrated botanic publications in Botanic magazine by William
Curtis and English Botany by James Sourby, redeemed by the Derby factory.
Derby factory
is deemed Royal not just for a word. Proving its name, the factory produces one
of the best china in the world. On the top of it, the Royal family uses the
services of the manufacture since 1775. In 1784 Royal Crown Derby received the order
to deliver the dessert sets for George, Prince of Wales and in 1787 they regularly
provided dessert tea sets for the Prince of Wales. Queen-mother Elizabeth I
collected many items of this ancient manufacture and when she died, her
daughter, Elizabeth II, the Queen, continued her mother's passion for the
English chinaware. To honor one of the Royal Family members (Antoinette, the Queen)
and upon the request of the latter, the well-famous pattern ‘Antoinette' was
created as one of the rocaille patterns scale.
Currently, the
output of the Royal Crown Derby manufacture is limited and existing collections
display very exclusive things that are rather suitable to print the Allusive
Arms, photo or just words of wishing. Bear in mind, however, that you should
place the order half a year before to have your order in time. To acquire this
collection, the company should become the member to the Royal Guild of
Collectors founded in 1994. The membership entitles to receive catalogues and
place orders. The membership fee is 45 pounds and annual subscription for
catalogues will take you 32
pounds more. And a rare collector, the true one, would agree
it is too much. Yet, Royal Crown Derby Chinaware is deemed as vintage ware and
it is rarely used for everyday serving the table.
If you are
a collector or just have some vintage chinaware at home, you need to take care
of it placing them in the appropriate cabinet to protect from dust and falling.
It's not a good
idea to place the whole 12-person tea set at the same shelf. You risk to accidentally
dropping some items when trying to get the cup or tea-pot in the back. This is
not a problem for a housewife with an ordinary tea set, but the collector will
take it to heart, since collecting is the deal of the life. It is even worse if
your vintage set is Royal Crown Derby. Avoid washing your fragile chinaware, especially
the sets with gold trims, with abrasives and in the washing machine. You'd better
wash every item of the set under the warm running water in soapy solution. However,
the true Royal Crown Derby is worth such a loving care, this is the real part
of the British history, altogether with Guinness Beer or Burberry service
jacket.
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