Enchanting and Rare Pair Of Antique English Chamberlain Worcester Cabinet Plates in “Fine Old Japan” or “Nelson” Pattern Circa 1805

An exceptional pair of cabinet plates made by Chamberlain Worcester around 1805. The pattern is a rare “Fine Old Japan” pattern, often called the “Nelson” pattern.

Robert Chamberlain started out working at the famous Worcester Porcelain Company in the 18th Century. He started his own porcelain company in 1791 and became very successful, but ultimately couldn’t compete with the Worcester (then called Barr & Flight) factory and merged with them in 1840.

The decoration is a beautiful example of the Regency “Japan” style from the early 19th Century; the gloriously colourful and intriguing pattern is one of the many “Japan” patterns that came out around that time and was called the “Fine Old Japan” pattern from 1802. This pattern forms the basis of the design ordered by Admiral Lord Nelson’s “Horatia” service. He ordered an entire service in the pattern (but with the additions of his own crests) and therefore it is often called the “Nelson” pattern.

In the central image is an enchanting scene of a beautiful rich cobalt blue vase with a flowing gorgeous bouquet of flowers and a foreground of iron red concentric circles. The rim has alternating panels that are richly decorated. The smaller panels are gold or gilt with Japanese kamons that alternate with larger panels of intensely detailed fine images of “stylized flowers” and patterns in iron red, pink and gilt. In a few of the large panels, two teal-coloured ibises and a pink “lion” are “in hiding”. The plates are entirely uniquely hand-painted, meaning each plate is slightly different, even the Chamberlain signature is by hand and marked ” Chamberlains Worcester No. 240″ .

Authentic Chamberlain Worcester with an enchanting and rare “Nelson” pattern, not to mention an  “adventurous” piece of history.

Dimenions: diameter 9.5″ x height 1.75″