Royal Worcester Blue & White Ceramic Silver Plated Cruet Set With Stand

Royal Worcester ceramic cruet set with silver plated stand.
Blue and white transfer-printed decoration.
Chinoiserie landscape style pattern.
Includes pepper pot, lidded mustard pot and open salt pot.
Silver plated frame with loop handle and ball feet.

Approximate dimensions

Pepper pot height including finial - 70mm (2 3/4")

Condition

Unable to remove the lid of the pepper pot. Slight internal hairline crack to the salt pot, not affecting use. The silver plated stand and metal fittings have tarnishing and discolouration, which may be polished if preferred. The ceramic surfaces show areas of surface marking and discolouration around the lower rims and undersides.

Description

A Royal Worcester three-piece ceramic cruet set held in a silver plated metal stand. The set comprises a pepper pot, a lidded mustard pot and an open salt pot, arranged in a triangular frame with a raised central loop handle.

The stand is formed from silver coloured plated metal, with circular retaining rings for each ceramic piece, a shaped lower platform and three rounded ball feet. The central handle rises vertically between the two rear containers and is made from a plain rounded metal strip.

The ceramic pieces are decorated in blue transfer print on a white ground. The design is similar in general appearance to Willow pattern, but is not Willow pattern. The decoration includes chinoiserie-style landscape scenes with buildings, bridges, boats, water, trees and birds, with geometric key-pattern borders and scale-like panels around the upper sections.

The two taller rear pots have metal-mounted lids. One lid has a clear glass centre with a metal rim, finial and spoon aperture. The other has a silver coloured metal top with concentric borders, beaded edging and a raised finial. The lower open salt pot has a plain pale interior with blue decoration around the exterior.

The ceramic undersides bear Royal Worcester marks. One underside also has red painted numerals or letters. The underside of the silver plated stand is stamped with numerals and a small rectangular maker or quality stamp, though the wording is not fully clear.

Cruet sets of this type were made for table use, holding condiments such as salt, pepper and mustard together in a handled stand. Blue and white transfer-printed ceramic cruets were popular in late nineteenth and early twentieth century dining settings, often combining decorative ceramic bodies with plated metal fittings.

Object Type: Cruet Set
Age: 1850–1899
Era / Period: Late 19th to early 20th century
Material: Porcelain
Finish: Glazed
Production Technique: Transfer Printed
Decoration Technique: Blue and white transfer print
Style: Chinoiserie

Royal Worcester Cruet Set Silver Plated Stand Blue White Condiment Pots