Equally foolish and erroneous statements have been made about other of the English factories, and the difficulty of sifting real facts from a mass of chaff in such factories as Bow or Lowestoft is very great.
In the early days of Chelsea, and, by the way, the exact date of the establishment of the factory is not known, the clay was obtained from Cornwall. Dr. Martin Lister, in a work published in 1699, mentions the fact that an inferior kind of porcelain was made at Chelsea, probably little better than opaque glass. It is known that a manufactory of glass was set up at Chelsea by some Venetians under the auspices of the Duke of Buckingham. It is interesting to note that the Chelsea mark of an anchor is identical with that of Venice. In 1745 the works at Chelsea had attained a Continental fame, inasmuch as the French company, in petitioning for the establishment of a factory at Vincennes, urged that its aim was to counteract the importation of English and German ware.
CHELSEA VASE. 24 IN. HIGH. (DATE 1762.)
Representing the Death of Cleopatra.
In British Museum.
1745 is a very convenient date, as we then come on surer ground. The earliest dated example of English porcelain known has the word, “Chelsea, 1745,” scratched on it under the glaze, and is also marked with a triangle. We reproduce this mark in our list of Chelsea marks.
Life was given to the Chelsea factory by the patronage of George II., who did much to encourage its work. He procured workmen, models, and materials from Saxony and Brunswick, and thus enabled Chelsea to enter into competition with the best designs and productions of Dresden and Sèvres. The Duke of Cumberland took a warm interest in the factory, and contributed an annual sum to its revenue. In 1750 we find the Chelsea works in the hands of Nicholas Sprimont, a foreigner of considerable artistic taste, who established the reputation of Chelsea. The best period of Chelsea ware is from this date till the year 1765. Porcelain made between these two dates is always much sought after, and brings considerable sums under the hammer. For instance, in February, 1902, at Christie’s, a Chelsea teapot, painted with birds and trees in colours, in spiral panels, with borders of gilt flowers, fetched £96 12s., and a pair of vases, 111⁄4 inches in height, square shaped, the four panels painted with male and female Chinese figures, sold for £588. In July, 1902, a figure of a Chelsea shepherdess, brought £33 12s.
There is little doubt that at this time there were being manufactured at Chelsea some very fine specimens of porcelain. Horace Walpole writes, in 1763, “I saw yesterday a magnificent service of Chelsea china, which the King and Queen are sending to the Duke of Mecklenburg. There are dishes and plates without number, an epergne, candlestick, salt-cellars, sauce-boats, tea and coffee equipages, et cetera. In short, it is complete, and cost £1,200.”