Museum of Royal Worcester
Severn Street
Worcester WR1 2ND
Tel: 01905 21247
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Tuesday to Saturday 10am – 5pm
Sunday 10am – 4pm
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In the early 19th century there were two rival china factories in Worcester – Flights and Chamberlains – both making the highest quality of porcelain for important customers. In 1807 the then Prince of Wales (the future King George IV) visited both factories and impressed by what he saw he granted them both Royal Warrants. In 1811, not long after becoming Prince Regent he requested sample plates for a new dinner service to be made by each of them. This plate by Barr, Flight and Barr is most likely one of these samples. The Prince, however, decided to order his service from Chamberlains, which is the renowned harlequin service still in the Royal Collection today at Windsor Castle.
The archive at the Museum of Royal Worcester has the original Chamberlain pattern book prepared by the rival factory to vie for the Prince Regent’s business. George was known for his extravagance and fascination with the exotic, exemplified by the decoration of the Brighton Pavilion and the design of this plate and those in the Chamberlains pattern book reflect this taste. The hand-painted imari style decoration fuses elements of Chinese and Japanese art and design with Regency England and bears the coronet and Prince of Wales feathers in the centre.
Front page to a book of designs by Chamberlains, dated May 14th 1811. In pencil, R. W. Binns has noted that these designs were used for the Prince Regent Service produced by Chamberlains.
Hand-painted design for a platter by Chamberlains later used to create the Prince Regent Service, today in the Royal Collection at Windsor Castle. Page 1, book of designs by Chamberlains dated May 14th 1811. Similarities can be made with the Barr, Flight and Barr Prince Regent Plate in the collection at the Museum of Royal Worcester.
Hand-painted design for a plate by Chamberlains later used to create the Prince Regent Service, today in the Royal Collection at Windsor Castle. Page 27, book of designs by Chamberlains dated May 14th 1811. Similarities can be made with the Barr, Flight and Barr Prince Regent Plate in the collection at the Museum of Royal Worcester.
Page from the Diary of John Flight (1785-1791), Lords Day 14th September 1788, 9p.m, p. 231. Account of the Royal Family visiting the newly opened Flight showroom on the Worcester High Street where they ordered 'a great deal of China' (most likely the Royal Lily service). The family later visited the Manufactory and the King convinces Mr. Flight to open a store in London.
Page from the Diary of John Flight (1785-1791), Lords Day 14th September 1788, 9p.m, p. 232. Account of the Royal Family visiting the newly opened Flight showroom on the Worcester High Street where they ordered 'a great deal of China' (most likely the Royal Lily service). The family later visited the Manufactory and the King convinces Mr. Flight to open a store in London.
Page from the Diary of John Flight (1785-1791), Lords Day 14th September 1788, 9p.m, p. 233. Account of the Royal Family visiting the newly opened Flight showroom on the Worcester High Street where they ordered 'a great deal of China' (most likely the Royal Lily service). The family later visited the Manufactory and the King convinces Mr. Flight to open a store in London.
Page from the Diary of John Flight (1785-1791), Lords Day 14th September 1788, 9p.m, p. 234. Account of the Royal Family visiting the newly opened Flight showroom on the Worcester High Street where they ordered 'a great deal of China' (most likely the Royal Lily service). The family later visited the Manufactory and the King convinces Mr. Flight to open a store in London.
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