BACKGROUND:
Samuel Radford Ltd (Radfords) from 1883 until 1955 the works operated from Fenton, Stoke On Trent.
The business was then sold to Coalport and then nothing much happened, with the works being demolished and the company Samuel Radford Ltd being dissolved in 1960
This is another example of their art deco decorated tableware, most likely from the period 1920's ~ 1930's and possibly into the late 1940's as a very similar (but not identical) backstamp was used in the period 1891 ~ 1913 but notable is the lack of the circle around the intertwined SR and the text MADE IN ENGLAND, not just ENGLAND.
DLAT Rating: 9.5/10 (Darling, Look At This!)
This teaset was part of my wife's gradually diminishing Art Deco collection, these were probably the most difficult for her to find and she tells me that this particular teaset was bought back with her after a "shopping trip" in UK during the 1970's. If you know the Brit's, they NEVER throw things out, keeping their old stuff for ever and a day ... my wife felt she had hit the jackpot when the previous owner allowed her to have this teaset! The previous owner said this teaset had been in the family (but barely used) for many many years but the exact year that it was made was not forthcoming.
To see the other RADFORDS Art Deco chinaware pieces which may still be available, take a look HERE
RADFORDS (SAMUEL LTD) UK - Teacup, Saucer & Side Plate
Produced at the Fenton works
Circa somewhere in the period 1920's ~ 1940's, based on the backstamp design
Registered pattern: 8080
Pattern name: Unknown (Radfords wasn't in the habit of giving 'marketing names' to their patterns)
Translucent fine china, meaning that when it is held up to a bright light you can easily see the shadow of your hand through the chinaware
Hand decorated (decorator's and gilder's marks to the underside of each piece)
The design features extensive Gold gilded scrolling and leaf patterns with hand applied Pale Blue & Pale Yellow flowers and some Lime Green border colouring. Even tiny little Red dots have been added to the pistil of the flowers and this paint is slightly raised and can be felt with your finger.
Very much in the vein of the 'Art Deco' period, something that Radfords is well known for.
Shaping is a little unusual, at least compared to the many other teaset's my wife has handed me ... the saucer and side plate look VERY similar but do have 'subtle' differences. The saucer has the distinct ridge in the centre to hold the teacup, is more 'bowl' shaped and is ever so slightly smaller than the side plate. The side plate does have the central Gold gilded ring but no ridge to hold a teacup and is noticeably 'flatter' than the saucer.
BACKSTAMP DETAILS:
TEACUP
SAUCER
SIDE PLATE
DIMENSIONS:
TEACUP
88mm diameter wide mouth x 75mm height with an upturned handle (not quite Queen Anne style though)
SAUCER
137mm diameter
SIDE PLATE
152mm diameter
COSMETIC CONDITION:
This teaset is between 80 ~ 100 years old, if only I looked so good after all those years (but I have been used and abused, this teaset has not!)
USED - barely!
CLEAN
The following descriptions relate to each item of this teaset equally ...
NO cracks at all
NO chips at all
NO discolouration or wear to the hand decorations
NO discolouration to the base bone china
NO significant wear is apparent to any of the Gold gilding, this includes often handled areas such as the teacup handle, all of the scalloped rims and the central gilded rings on the saucer & side plate and inside the teacup mouth. Truly astonishing (to me at least!)
There is a very small 'downside' and I mean small .... both the saucer and side plate have one small fleabite to the underside. These fleabites are NOT discoloured and actually quite difficult to see.
Such a fine trio from many moons ago!
