Swinborn Tea and Coffee Service

This unique combined tea and coffee service was made at the Chelsea porcelain factory during its gold anchor period, after 1758, for the Swinborn family in the Isle of White. The Chelsea factory was established in about 1745, it soft paste composition imitated examples from Sevres; but in every case Chelsea is unmistakably English - often being more spirited and less overtly sophisticated than its continental prototypes. Sometimes, as here, the glaze has a tendency to pool and crack.

The teapot, cream jug and sugar box all reflect the shapes of contemporary silver, perhaps not surprisingly as Chelsea's manager was Nicolas Sprimont, a highly-accomplished goldsmith from Liege. The tea bowls, on the other hand, are based on Chinese shapes. The decoration of purple monochrome landscapes within gilt borders was inspired by Continental porcelain, especially from the German factories, and was referred to in the Chelsea Sale Catalogues as 'purple landskips'.

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