Wileman & Company was formed in 1872, using the name The Foley China.
In 1910, the Shelley's (Joseph & Percy) joined Wileman's and from 1910 onwards all of their products were backstamped as Shelley, the works were located in Staffordshire
Shelley is widely considered as one of the very best makers of fine bone china in England and this simple yet elegant design, Dainty, remains very popular due to the ease with which it co-ordinates with other tea and coffee ware, the quality and even the weight! When you pickup up a piece of Shelley, you know it immediately - a bit like (but not the same as) Irish Belleek.
My wife is "pretty sure" this coffee pot* (actually see my notes below about this description) left the works in the early 1950's - this was a time when all English chinaware makers were still under strict instructions by the British Government to produce non-fancy tablewares, although these requirements were introduced during WWII, the ruling lingered until the early 1950's.
DLAT rating: 9.5/10 (Darling Look At This!)
SHELLEY (ENGLAND) - Coffee Pot
Circa 1945 ~ 1966 based on the Green backstamp design
Fine Pure White Bone China
Translucent, meaning if a light source is shone through the wall or lid of the coffee pot, you can easily see the light on the "other side"
Pattern design: 272101
Absolutely NO decorative work at all, not even Gold gilding - pure virginal White
* Although my wife tells me the shape is that of a coffee pot, inside it has the holes where the spout is attached to the body, to catch tea leaves, remembering tea was made with "real leaves" not a bag! So I guess this pot may considered as a dual coffee//tea pot
The pattern name, Dainty, says it all - very fine smooth work all over the pot, spout and handle. The lid is fitted into a "twist n turn" notch in the mouth so that when the pot is tilted for pouring, the lid will not fall onto the table ... nice touch!
The backstamp confirms the time period this pot left the works, between 1945 ~ 1966
Here is a small photograph of the backstamp
DIMENSIONS:
She stands 190mm high (7.5") and is 100mm diameter at the base.
The handle is ample, meaning that even a gentleman can get his hand inside the handle (try that with some of the teacups, it's not easy!)
The spout has the leaf catching holes inside and draws the coffee (or tea) from approximately 1/3 of the way up from the base.
WEIGHT: 550g (empty!)
COSMETIC CONDITION:
Of course, this is THE important part - no good having a Shelley if she is broken or damaged!
This coffee pot is in very good condition, I mean very very good.
NO cracks to the pot or the lid
NO chips to the pot or the lid
NO crazing observed at all
The colouring is pure White, no discolourations or stains such as you may find inside a coffee or tea pot - clean as a whistle!
Notice that my wife gave this pot 9.5/10 and the reason is that while inspecting this pot ever so carefully, I saw the tiniest little Brown "dot" which can barely be seen but try as I might (soap n water) I could not budge it. I looked inside the pot in the same area and nothing there - just White as far as the eye can see! So "something" has left this little dot and I (and my wife) have no idea what caused it.
This is the ONLY downside that we noticed - and we are very very fussy people.
Of course we always pack with extreme care when shipping, so that our items arrive safely in their new homes and this coffee pot is no exception - it will be insured but that's not really the point, we want it to arrive safely at its destination.
