Circa 1910 George Jones Hand Painted Fruit Service
£1800
One of the finest porcelain suites we have been able to offer for some time, this is a 12 piece set of individually hand painted plates each having a fruit still life painted to the centre , a rich apple green ground on a superb shaped plate, finished with high quality gilding, every plate has its own individual composition, they are all signed and by the same artist 'W Birbeck'.
The set comprises 11 plates, each 8 1/2 inches diameter and there is an oval shallow fruit serving dish that is 10 1/2 inches long by 8 inches wide and 1 3/4 inches deep. (the complete service weighs 4kg approx unpacked)
The condition is excellent, all the plates are in great order, they have probably never actually been used, the porcelain body is across every piece white and bright, with no glaze issues. The painted centres are undamaged. The lobbed dish has the only flaw, which is an underside surface hairline (shown in photos), it is not repeated on the front.
The manufacture is by George Jones, a major name in the Staffordshire potteries, the mark was in use from 1891 to 1921, there is an additional Lawleys mark on one piece that which we believe is as a retailer's mark rather than post 1920's when they were acquiring various pottery manufacturers to expand their existing glass and porcelain retail outlets.