Fig. 749.
One of the choicest examples of the highest class of art in Bristol porcelain existing at the present day, is the tea-service of which the cup and saucer engraved on Fig. [749] forms a part. This splendid service, of which, through the courtesy of Miss Smith, this cup and saucer passed into my hands, possesses a double interest, first from its being made “the best that the manufactory could produce;” and, second, from the historical associations which are connected with it. This example is also highly important as showing the perfection to which the manufacture of porcelain had been brought by Champion in 1774–5. It seems that in 1774 Edmund Burke, while the contested election for Bristol was going on, remained in that city, and for a month was the guest of Mr. and Mrs. Smith, who were his warm friends and zealous supporters, and he presented this splendid set of china, made expressly, by his own order, by Mr. Champion, to Mrs. Smith, and the remains of the set are now the property of that lady’s daughter, Miss Smith, of Berkeley Crescent. This set, it is fair to presume, was ordered by Burke while remaining in Bristol, or at all events about that time, which would be the very year in which the transfer of the Plymouth works to Champion of Bristol was completed. As a service of such exquisite beauty and such minute detail in painting would necessarily be a work of time, the absolute date of its completion may be set down to the beginning of the year 1775. The decorations of Burke’s service are of chaste and elaborate design and delicate workmanship. It is profusely and massively gilt in both dead and burnished gold, the wreaths of laurel, &c., being in green, which was Burke’s electioneering colour. Each piece bears the monogram of Mrs. Smith, S S conjoined, formed of wreaths of roses in pink and gold, and also the arms of Smith, sable, a fesse between three saltiers or; on an escutcheon of pretence the arms of Pope, or, two chevronels and a canton gules, the latter charged with a mullet of the first; and the crest of Smith, a saltier or. The pieces of this service are marked with the usual cross. In the Museum of Practical Geology is a cup and saucer of the same form, presented by the Duchess of Northumberland, in which the festoons and borders are of similar character, but of very inferior workmanship to those just described. Another remarkably fine and, of course, unique service was brought under the hammer in 1871, and deserves more than a passing notice. This service had been made by Champion and presented by him and his wife to Mrs. Burke. On the larger pieces were the arms of Burke impaling Nugent on a pedestal, supported, dexter, by a figure of Liberty; and, sinister, by a figure of Plenty. On the top of the pedestal is Cupid with a flaming torch, and at the base the inscription, “I. BVRKE, OPT. B. M. R. ET. I. CHAMPION. D. D.D. PIGNVS. AMICITÆ. III. NON. NOV. MDCCLXXIV.” Other decorations also are introduced. Portions of this service (which it is a pity was ever dispersed) are in possession of Mr. Callender, of Mr. Edkins, of Mr. Fry, and others. I am indebted to Mr. Owen for permission to reproduce from his admirable volume the engraving of a portion of this service (Fig. [750]), and for the use of several other woodcuts.
Fig. 750.—Part of the Service presented to Edmund Burke by Mr. and Mrs. Champion.
Figs. 751 to 753.—Bristol Vases, belonging to Mr. Fry, Mr. Nightingale, and Mr. Callender.
