Church Gresley
One of the most iconic and interesting patterns in the huge variety of antique British porcelain is the "Church Gresley" pattern that Coalport brought out around 1810.
The pattern consists of lozenge shaped panels on a coloured ground and little reserves with pink "Billingsley" roses. Some items also have flower reserves; anything from hastily painted wildflowers to carefully curated bouquets. The colour scheme is usually yellow or ochre with lots of gilt, but there are some rare versions in different colours, such as the black plate shown here.
It is not known why this pattern is called "Church Gresley"; this is the name of a small village in South Derbyshire in England. It is possible that the pattern was first designed for the local nobles, a family of baronets of originally Norman origin who lived in the area for about 900 years and owned the village.
There is a story about the version with the larger flower reserves, which is extremely rare: apparently there are a few of these items in Buckingham Palace, and it is thought that a large service was made as a sample for the Prince Regent, but never bought; the pieces were then scattered. I have only had one bowl like this, but heard this story from a collector who purchased a small tea service in this pattern accompanied by this story, which came from a reputable source. Who knows?
This amazing plate is intriguing - and I have added a few pictures of some other items I have had previously in this pattern, which are now with happy clients.
If any of you know more about the name of this pattern, please tell us all in the comments!
Thanksgiving... there is still time!
If you are thinking of putting together a stunning tablescape for the holidays, there is still time! During the month of November I can ship within the UK and the USA within a week - other destinations can vary. Please ask if you want to know if you can add a wonderful piece, or indeed a whole dessert service, to your table!
Where to find things
You can find all my Coalport items here, and all my available stock here. If you always want to see the latest additions, follow me on Instagram... I post pictures and a story several times a week.
The Murray Pollinger Collection of Samuel Alcock Porcelain
I have now released a large part of this wonderful and very special collection of antique porcelain to my subscribers. Many pieces have already been snatched up, but there are still plenty to choose from, and I am now releasing small batches into the shop each week. If you want to get access to the whole collection, sign up below for the mailing list, and you will get the catalogue and the full story about the collection emailed to you.
Happy weekend!
This week's new treasures:
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