On offer are a beautiful Wileman cake plate and milk jug/creamer. The pattern is called "Japan Oriental Flowers", made in or shortly after 1889. The shape of these items is called "Lily".
Wileman (later renamed Shelley and sometimes called Foley) was one of the most respected manufacturers of fine bone china teaware in the late 19th Century, and many of their products are now collector's items. They made many different shapes of items and the Lily shape was a popular, rather robust one.
The Japan Oriental Flowers print pattern on the Lily shape was registered in 1889. It is a beautifully stylised very Victorian take on the Japanese Imari style, in warm peach and deep terracotta colours with gilt accents on all shapes. The colours, although quite traditionally Imari-like, are actually quite unusual when you look well - there is no black, and the peach colour is not often put together with this shade of rust red. The shapes are full of various leaves and a beautiful rose-like flower at the centre of the main panels.
CONDITION REPORT This set is in excellent antique condition. The pattern and gilding are still in good shape; there is some stacking wear on the plate and the milk jug has had some rubbing on the rims and the protruding belly, which is a normal sign of ageing. There are no chips, cracks or even crazing and both items ring like a bell when tapped.
Kilns were fired on coal in the late 1800s, and this meant that china from that period can have some firing specks from flying particles. The reason Wileman was able to present high quality tea ware to the middle classes at an affordable price is that they decided to pass items with minor kiln firing blemishes in order to keep costs down. You will see some specks on this set, but it is relatively free from them.
All items carry the Wileman mark in terracotta. They also carry the registration number 4023 hand painted in gold.
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(diameter at the widest point): plate 23.5cm (9 1/4"), milk jug stands 10.5Cm (4 1/8") high to top of handle.
Wileman milk jug & cake plate, Japan Oriental Flowers, 1889
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We always aim to have happy customers so if you have an issue with or questions about your item, please contact us and we will do anything we can to resolve the issue with you!
