Worcester Porcelain Manufactory (Flight Period)
Platter

CultureEnglish
Titles
  • Platter
Date1790–1791
Made inWorcester, England
MediumSoft-paste porcelain
Dimensions1 7/16 × 14 3/8 × 11 in. (3.7 × 36.5 × 27.9 cm)
Credit LineThe Rienzi Collection, gift of Mr. and Mrs. Harris Masterson III
Object number84.702
Current Location
Rienzi
Breakfast Room
On view

Explore Further

Department
Rienzi
Object Type
Description

This platter is from a grand dinner service ordered in 1790 by the Duke of Clarence, who would later become King William IV. Called the “Hope” service, the pieces all feature a scene of a woman holding an anchor. This image was understood to represent “hope” because hope was the anchor of the soul.


By the early 1780s, Worcester had lost its position as one of the most successful and innovative English factories. Thomas Flight, Worcester´s London agent, purchased the factory in the hopes of saving the company and in a few years, under the guidance of Flight´s son, the factory was again creating fashionable wares in the latest French styles and shapes. The reversal of the factory's fortunes was further aided by royal commissions such as those from the Duke of Clarence.


ProvenanceWilliam Henry,Duke of Clarence, later King William IV, 1791; by descent to Lord Frederick FitzClarence, then to William George, 18th Earl of Erroll, then to Charles, 20th Earl of Erroll; [Christie’s, London, 11 May 1893, lots 104–165]; [Thomas Seifert Antiques, Houston]; purchased by Mr. and Mrs. Harris Masterson III, 1978; given to MFAH, 1984.
Inscriptions, Signatures and Marks
Crown/Flight/Blue crescent
Sticker on underside: W HARRIS W / MASTERSON / COLLECTION / 741 (handwritten)
Sticker on underside: Platter from / service made / for the Duke / of Clarence / in 179 93

Cataloguing data may change with further research.

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Plate
Worcester Porcelain Manufactory (Flight Period)
1790–1791
Soft-paste porcelain
84.701
Twenty-Five Piece Assembled Tea and Coffee Service
Worcester Porcelain Manufactory (Flight, Barr & Barr Period)
c. 1813–1840
Soft-paste porcelain
96.1847.1-.25
Armorial Plate
Worcester Porcelain Manufactory (Flight, Barr & Barr Period)
c. 1815
Soft-paste porcelain
96.1148
Coffee Cup and Saucer
Worcester Porcelain Manufactory (Barr, Flight & Barr Period)
c. 1810
Soft-paste porcelain
84.694.1,.2
Dinner Service
Worcester Porcelain Manufactory (Flight, Barr & Barr Period)
c. 1815
Soft-paste porcelain
94.938.1-.5
Plate
Worcester Porcelain Manufactory (Flight & Barr Period)
c. 1800
Soft-paste porcelain
84.695
Dinner Service
Worcester Porcelain Manufactory (Barr, Flight & Barr Period)
c. 1810
Soft-paste porcelain
94.936.1-.7
Dinner Service
Worcester Porcelain Manufactory (Barr, Flight & Barr Period)
c. 1815
Soft-paste porcelain
94.937.1-.8
Coffee Cup
Worcester Porcelain Manufactory (Barr, Flight & Barr Period)
c. 1807
Soft-paste porcelain
84.699.1
Saucer
Worcester Porcelain Manufactory (Barr, Flight & Barr Period)
c. 1807
Soft-paste porcelain
84.699.2
Tea Cup and Saucer
Worcester Porcelain Manufactory (Flight & Barr Period)
c. 1807
Soft-paste porcelain
84.698.1,.2
Tea and Coffee Service
Worcester Porcelain Manufactory (Barr, Flight & Barr Period)
c. 1805
Soft-paste porcelain
96.1689.1-.39