Fabulous though imperfect c.1825 English Staffordshire pottery 16pc tea service, the look of it being so strongly Clews, I tried to affirm it but have found instead that it is an unknown maker, pattern #4068 in the TCC Database, an assigned name, "Bird with Nest in Flowers". The bulk of early Staffordshire in this dark beautiful blue seemed to be for the American market, and we do find it here and there from the eastern States. This collector's treasure came to me out of Ohio along with a very impressive and decades-long passion she'd had for blue transferware. Each piece has underglaze "Stone China", often seen on Clews, but does not have the impressed Clews mark, so qualifies only as unnamed maker. Full measurements noted on our photos.
Good to very good condition for age and type, the set is perfect for display, very beautiful as to well-placed transfers, deep cobalt glaze, and surprisingly complete, missing just 1 of the deep bowl saucers. Display not for use, there are 2 damaged pieces of the 16: small break on 1 saucer, and a more serious old break on the large teapot, sadly. Both have been re-set, but not professionally restored. Again, more to display than to use. Details of each damaged spot are shown in detail in our photos. That said, rare to find a large grouped tea set nearly 200 years of age in these old pottery pieces, so still a fabulous find. Priced allowing for a restoration, we hope they will find their way to another appreciative collector's blue ware.
