This is a very rare and stunning little orphaned coffee can made by Derby in about 1795. The can has a bright yellow ground, faux-jewelling in light blue and a beautifully gilded handle and a stunning little landscape painted by Jockey Hill.
The Derby factory, later reshaped into Royal Crown Derby, is currently the oldest British porcelain factory still in production. Derby was one of the most prominent potteries right from the start of English porcelain production in the mid 1700s to today. Their items are of exceptionally high quality and many of the designs have become iconic, particularly the Imari designs; many of these are still being made today. Derby made many exciting designs in the Regency era, and this can, which would have belonged to a large tea service, is a beautiful example. The marking at the underside indicates that the can was produced some time between 1782 and 1800, however it is known that Hill painted several services in this pattern and another nearly identical one around 1795.
Thomas "Jockey" Hill came to work at Derby in 1794, after a number of years at Chelsea. He received his nickname because he came to work every day riding his pony, Bob. Hill specialised in landscapes and was hired to replace Zachariah Boreman, who had moved back to London. His style is very similar to Boreman: landscapes often in brown and green muted colours; but his brush style is slightly different and his drawing often a little less detailed. Just like Boreman, Hill did not get along with Michael Kean, the owner of the factory from 1795 onwards, and he returned to London in 1800 to work with his father, a well-known artist also called Thomas Hill.
The yellow ground on this can is very rare; yellow was a very difficult colour to fire as the kiln failure was high. The fact that this particular can has a completely even yellow colour makes it even rarer as often the colour would come out slightly instable.
The can is marked with the hand painted puce crowned Derby mark that was used between 1782 and 1800, as well as the pattern number 34 or 311, it is hard to read. There is an impressed J and a gilders number 8.The can has provenance: it came from the collection of Dr John Freeman, one of the founders of the Derby Porcelain Society and a specialist in Derby porcelain. With the can comes a note from Dr Freeman.
PROVENANCE: private collection by descent from Dr John Freeman
CONDITION REPORT The can is in excellent antique condition except some very light wear and some crazing on the underside only, as visible in the pictures.
Antique British porcelain is never perfect. Kilns were fired on coal in the 1800s, and this meant that china from that period can have some firing specks from flying particles. British makers were also known for their experimentation, and sometimes this resulted in technically imperfect results. Due to the shrinkage in the kiln, items can have small firing lines or develop crazing over time, which should not be seen as damage but as an imperfection of the maker's recipes, probably unknown at the time of making. Items have often been used for many years and can have normal signs of wear, and gilt can have signs of slight disintegration even if never handled. I will reflect any damage, repairs, obvious stress marks, crazing or heavy wear in the item description but some minor scratches, nicks, stains and gilt disintegration can be normal for vintage items and need to be taken into account.
There is widespread confusion on the internet about the difference between chips and nicks, or hairlines and cracks. I will reflect any damage as truthfully as I can, i.e. a nick is a tiny bit of damage smaller than 1mm and a chip is something you can easily see with the eye; a glazing line is a break in the glazing only; hairline is extremely tight and/or superficial and not picked up by the finger; and a crack is obvious both to the eye and the finger. Etcetera - I try to be as accurate as I can and please feel free to ask questions or request more detailed pictures!
DIMENSIONS 6.2cm (2.5") diameter and 6.2cm (2.5") high.
Derby orphaned coffee can, landscape on yellow ground, Jockey Hill, ca 1795
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