Item Description
Shelley Autumn Leaves pattern No. 0168 creamer and open sugar bowl set in the Henley shape, manufactured from fine bone china in Staffordshire, England. The underside carries the Shelley Fine Bone China England backstamp, the Ideal China designation, hand-applied pattern number 0168 and registered design number 771299. The set comprises a matching milk or cream jug and open sugar bowl. Both pieces have rounded, gently tapering bodies raised upon circular feet, with softly scalloped upper rims. The jug features a projecting pouring lip and distinctive open Henley handle. Shelley produced the Henley shape from 1938 until the company’s takeover in 1966. Autumn Leaves depicts a stylised seasonal landscape with a twisting brown tree, softly shaded ground and foliage in green, yellow, ochre, orange and pink. The scene continues around each body, while fallen leaves and restrained background details create depth. Gold edging follows the rims, feet and handle, emphasising the shaped outlines. Ideal China was a separately identified Shelley line, also associated with export and Canadian teaware. Its patterns used numbers beginning with zero; the recorded Ideal series commenced in 1938 and continued until 1966. This set is therefore correctly distinguished from Shelley’s 13000-series Best Ware and 2000-series Seconds Ware. The exact manufacturing year of pattern 0168 remains unconfirmed. The matching pair is suitable for completing an Autumn Leaves service or displaying as a self-contained example of Shelley Ideal China. Its collector interest lies in the combination of a named seasonal design, Henley shape, Ideal China mark and clearly recorded pattern and registration numbers. No dimensions or capacities have been estimated from the photographs. Please inspect all images for the precise decoration, shape, marks and present appearance.
Item Condition
Very good vintage used condition. This matching Shelley Autumn Leaves creamer and open sugar bowl set has been carefully examined and presents attractively for its age. No cracks, repairs, hairlines or structural damage have been identified. Both pieces retain their shaped Henley profiles. The jug’s pouring lip, open loop handle, scalloped rim and circular foot appear sound, as do the sugar bowl’s rim, body and foot. The seasonal landscape remains clearly presented, with the brown tree, multicoloured autumn foliage and softly shaded green and yellow ground visible across both pieces. Gold edging continues to define the rims, feet and handle. The Shelley Fine Bone China England backstamp, Ideal China designation, pattern number 0168 and registered design number 771299 remain identifiable. Extremely minor surface wear or manufacturing variation may be present upon close inspection. Fine age-related crazing may exist, although it is not currently visible to the naked eye. Hand washing is recommended to preserve the decoration and gilding. The photographs form an integral part of the description. A picture is worth a thousand words, and the images provide the clearest record of the exact set, its factory marks and present condition.
Manufacturer Info
Shelley’s association with the Foley China Works began in 1872, when Joseph Ball Shelley entered partnership with James Wileman and the business traded as Wileman & Co. Following Wileman’s retirement from the china works in 1884, the enterprise remained under Shelley family control while retaining the recognised Wileman name. Percy Shelley became sole proprietor in 1896. He strengthened the factory’s export trade and employed accomplished artists and designers, including Frederick Rhead, Walter Slater and Eric Slater. Their influence helped Shelley develop from Victorian and Art Nouveau ceramics into the distinctive Art Deco and floral bone-china services for which the company later became particularly recognised. The Shelley trademark was introduced in 1910, following a dispute concerning use of the Foley name. The company formally became Shelley Potteries Ltd in 1925. Its production included cups, saucers, plates, tea and coffee pots, jugs, sugar bowls, nursery ware and decorative ceramics. The Ideal China range began in 1938, with pattern numbers prefixed by zero, and continued until 1966. It was distinct from Shelley’s Best Ware and Seconds Ware sequences and became associated with export-market tableware. The Henley shape was likewise produced from 1938 to 1966. Shelley remained a family-controlled Staffordshire manufacturer until 1966, when it was acquired by Allied English Potteries and Shelley production ended. This Autumn Leaves No. 0168 set reconnects that history through its Ideal China marks, Henley bodies, seasonal decoration and registered factory form.
Did You Know?
Shelley’s longest-running shape survived for an extraordinary 70 years. Dainty was created by Rowland Morris in 1896, when the factory still traded as Wileman & Co, and approximately 100 original forms were reportedly developed for the plain-white range. Instead of disappearing as fashions changed, Dainty expanded into decorated, coloured, commemorative and export versions. It was still being produced when Shelley was taken over in 1966, making it a design that bridged the Victorian period, two world wars, Art Deco and the modern post-war tea table. This Autumn Leaves set uses the later Henley shape rather than Dainty, but both demonstrate Shelley’s ability to keep recognisable forms commercially relevant across changing generations and markets.
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