Details

A charming pearlware miniature toy part dinner service decorated with scenes from the 'Children at Play' series; Doris Anderson Lechler asserts that the correct name is 'Garden Sports'. By an unknown maker, it is probably Staffordshire, c.1840-1850.
Some of the pieces are finely potted (the two smaller sizes of plates, for example) while other pieces are a little less so. The quality of printing is a little variable too, some prints crisp and some a little blurry.
There are three scenes: two girls petting a dog, two children admiring a bird's nest and two children playing with a wheelbarrow.
The set consists of:
Covered soup tureen and underplate;
Two covered serving dishes with underplates;
Two covered sauce tureens;
Open serving bowl with wavy rim;
Two gravy/sauce boats;
Three pairs of graduated platters;
Two open rimmed bowls / pie dishes;
18 large dinner plates; 
Six dessert plates;
Five tea plates.
All the knops have moulded fruit, as do the underplate handles.

Size (approx., slight variations between pieces)

Plate diameters 7.3cm, 9cm and 10.5cm;
Jug length 8.4cm;
Platters 12 x 9.5cm, 13.5 x 10.5cm, 15.3 x 12.5cm;
Soup tureen height 12.7cm, length 11.2cm.
Please ask if other measurements required.

Condition
Generally in good condition with a few small nicks and minor chips from play, mostly to foot rings. Most of the pieces have unobtrusive fine glaze crazing.
Issues to note:
Old repair to the lid of one covered serving dish and a small hairline to the dish;
Chip to underside of soup tureen lid and small discoloured patch inside the tureen;
Two chips to the open serving bowl;
Old repair to the handle of a sauce tureen;
One dessert plate broken in half and glued. 
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These imperfections aside, it's a fine antique child's toy dinner service that displays beautifully.


 

 


 
Please feel free to ask any questions.

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On 10-Jun-2026 at 04:13:00 BST, seller added the following information: