This exquisite Chelsea porcelain plate was made during the factory’s celebrated Gold Anchor period, circa 1760.
Chelsea was one of the earliest and most important English porcelain manufactories.
Like much of the finest English porcelain of the mid-18th century, Chelsea wares were made of soft-paste porcelain, part of the European effort to create a porcelain body comparable to the hard-paste porcelains imported from China.
Chelsea’s soft-paste body has a characteristic warm, gentle white that works particularly beautifully with rich enamel grounds and gilding.
The gorgeous pink-claret ground gives the plate its immediate visual impact, shifting from lighter pink to deeper claret tones across the surface. Three shaped reserves of Chelsea’s soft white porcelain are hand painted with brightly colored exotic birds in flight, their red, orange, rose, purple, and golden plumage beautifully set against the rich ground.
The reserves are surrounded by exceptionally rich gilding. Delicate gilt sprays and scrolling Rococo ornament spread across the pink-claret ground, while areas of fine net-like gilt trelliswork add another layer of decoration.
A gilt dentil border follows the scalloped edge.
The brilliant pink-claret ground, lively bird painting, and elaborate gilding come together to make this an especially beautiful example of Chelsea porcelain from the Gold Anchor period.
A closely related set of five Chelsea Gold Anchor plates with the same pink-claret ground, bird reserves, and elaborate gilding is currently listed on 1stDibs for $32,500.
The reverse bears the Chelsea gold anchor mark.
Dimensions: 9.5″ diameter × 1.75″ deep
Condition: Excellent. One of the birds has wear to the enamels.
Maker: Chelsea Porcelain Manufactory
Date: Circa 1760
Period: Gold Anchor Period
Price: $1,400