AMERICAN HISTORICAL ANTIQUE PORCELAIN TEA SERVICE C. 1850-60

This 3-Piece Porcelain Tea Service includes teapot, sugar and creamer. There is a very faint cartouche factory mark “Sterling”. 

The sizes are as follows:

• Teapot:   9 1/2" High
• Sugar:     5 1/2" High
• Creamer: 3 1/2” High 

According to research, this particular mark is not confirmed to any specific factory. Research states that there is confusion as to affirmation of mark. Some researchers suggest possibly one of the American Limoges factories near Ohio and possibly the Sterling Company, Ohio. The shape is typical of the American Limoges porcelains of the time from the 1850-1860 period.  

COMMENT: Generally, the American Limoges porcelains were much more clunky and crude than those Limoges porcelains of France. Much of the American Limoges porcelain was made for hotels and countryside folk at the time and had to be very durable. This tea service is a heavy durable porcelain.

The category of description for this kind of china depicting American Views is known as “American Historical” China and is held in high esteem by museums and private collectors.

This kind of black & white transferware is also known as “bat printing”, an early form of transferware that originated in England.

The Entire Scene deals with the “Landing of the Pilgrims” into Plymouth Rock, Massachusetts, U.S.A.

Description Of Scenes Is As Follows:

• (1) Teapot: The handle going right depicts: “The Hanging of the Grave”, the handle going left depicts: “Return of the Mayflower; The lid to the teapot depicts “Priscilla and John Aiden on one side, and on the other side of the lid, it depicts “The Hanging of The Grave”.
• (2) Sugar Bowl: depicts “The courtship of Miles Stanaish, The Plea of John Aiden”.
• (3) Creamer: depicts, to the left of the handle the scene “Return of The Mayflower”, to the right of the handle, the scene “Pilgrim Exiles”. 

NOTE: There is a misspelling in John Alden’s surname name on the teapot. It should not read “Aiden”.

This set is definitely for the serious collector of American Historical China or for an American Museum. A real collector of these items can appreciate their values and conditions. As we all know, many of these important pieces have been restored because of their historical significance.

CONDITION: 

• The teapot has a chip to the spout that can be restored, other than this the teapot is in great condition. There are no stains, no other chips and no crazing.
• The sugar is mint condition.
• The creamer has a hairline crack, illustrated in photo and a little hole in bottom section also illustrated in photo.

All damages can be professionally restored. Such is the case with many of the older pieces of any significance from a historical point of view for preservation.