The Duchess of Cumberland Service A rare set of nineteen Rockingham dessert plates, circa 1830

each reserved with a central circular panel finely painted with a different scene within four radiating gold-ground panels tooled with military trophies alternating with bright blue-ground panels reserved with a gilt scroll-edged cartouche enclosing colourful flowers, the rims moulded with four flowerhead sections heightened in gilding, comprising:
five plates each with interior scenes of figures eating, drinking, gambling or at home, including one documentary example by George Speight, signed `Speight. Pinxt.' and titled on the reverse `Dutch Gamblers',
five plates each with an arrangement of exotic seashells, coral and foliage resting on a stone pedestal against a shaded brown ground,
five plates each with an arrangement of summer fruits and foliage resting on a stone pedestal against a shaded brown ground,
two topographical plates, the first with a view of Lake Windermere, the second with a view near Ambleside, each titled on the reverse,
and two ornithological plates, each with two birds perched on the branches of a tree before distant landscape, titled on the reverse, the first, `L'Amazili, Jeune âge.  Le saphir emeraude, Adult.', the second, `Malurus cyaneus.  Regulus sylvicolus'



 



 

Provenance:
Ordered in 1830 by Friederike, Duchess of Cumberland, Princess of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (1778-1841), from 1837 Queen of Hanover
Hausgesetz betr. die Stiftung eines Familien-Fidei-Commisses über die jetzt regierenden Linie des Königl. Hauses eigenthümlich zustehenden Juwelen, Pretiosen, Silbergeräthe, Gemählde, Bücher pp., 1843, (Nidersächsisches Landesarchiv - Hauptstaatsarchiv Hannover, Dep. 84 A 112), Vol.III Porcellan Service Gegenstände, Fol. 29 3 Dutz feine Dessert-Teller 189 Lvr. Strl.
Ernst-August-Fideikommiss 1855 Inv.Nr. 673
Schloss Gmunden, Silberkammer (by 1905)
Ernst-August-Fideikommiss 1905 Fol. 48 Inv.Nr. 48-83
Schloss Blankenburg, 2tes Zimmer nördl. der Bibliothek [2nd room north of the Library] (from 1926)

The inspiration for the Duchess of Cumberland Service is that ordered by her brother-in-law, Wiiliam IV, from the Rockingham Works in 1830. Known as The Royal Dessert Service and now located at Buckingham Palace, it originally consisted of 144 pieces, each piece bearing the King's arms within 'a ground of Brunswick blue, covered with a trellis work of embossed chased gold, over which creeps a wreath of English oak, as originally suggested by His Majesty; and a minute border of the white and red rose, thistle, shamrock and leek, intercepted by chased gold scroll, terminates the ground in the inner side' (see A.and A.Cox, Rockingham 1745-1842, pp.241-246, for a fuller account and description of this service). The arms are reported to be the work of George Speight.

The Duchess of Cumberland placed an order for a dessert service on 23rd October 1830:

At Kew, October 23, 1830
Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cumberland most graciously inspected the Pattern Plates (5) prepared for the purpose; and was pleased to express herself much gratified therewith, and commanded me to get up her Service with
6 Plates Interiors, style of Original.
6    "        Shells.
6    "        Birds.
6    "        Fruit
6    "        Landscapes (real views).
6    "        Marine.
and the comports, elevetated [sic], (Des Assiettes Elevés) to be the same as those of His Majesty; to be shewn to her as they are prepared in turns for the King to see.
                                                                     Price 250 Guineas
                                                                     36 Plates, gad[roon] g.
                                                                     12 Comports, or W.S.
                                                                     2 Cream Bowls.
                                                                     2 Ice Cellars.
                                                                                          J.W.BRAMELD

 

The Rockingham Works was established in 1825 at Swinton in Yorkshire under the patronage of the second Earl Fitzwilliam (nephew and heir of the Marquis of Rockingham) by the brothers Thomas, George, Frederick and John Wager Brameld.  The factory soon established a reputation for wares of outstanding quality and  was by far the youngest of those from which services were ordered by William IV following his accession to the throne in 1830.

George Speight (b.1808 d.1879) was one of the best-known and most skilled artists working at Rockingham and there are a number of other pieces signed by him including a tray painted with a copy of Van Dyck's painting of 1st Earl of Strafford dictating to his secretary.