[Austen, Jane].

90 individual pieces, consisting of the following items or sets (each noted with length measurements):



1 rounded oblong meat dish (510mm.);
1 set of 6 graduated rounded oblong serving dishes (520 to 265mm.);
1 rounded oblong serving dish (472mm.);
1 rounded oblong serving dish (360mm.);
36 dinner plates (246mm.);
12 desert plates (208mm.);
9 soup plates (250mm.);
3 tureens, covers and stands (285mm.);
1 tureen stand (288mm.);
1 rounded oblong vegetable tureen and cover (240mm.);
1 rounded oblong vegetable tureen cover (225mm.);
1 two-handled rounded oblong bowl (350mm.);
2 sauce tureens and stands (182mm.);
3 rounded oblong fruit bowls (310mm.);
3 rounded oblong small shallow dishes (180mm.);



each with 'lozenge' pattern in blue, brown and gilt together with family crest, impressed upper case manufacturer's mark on base, some chips and occasional heavy wear, some repairs and occasional hair cracks

Edward Austen Knight, and thence by direct family descent

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate. A full and detailed condition report is as follows: 1 rounded oblong meat dish (510mm) Overall in good condition with some typical scratches and knife cuts to glaze 6 graduated oval serving dishes The largest with large crack, approx 13 inches length and a smaller 3 inch crack. Some staining to glaze, particularly around the larger crack. Some wear to gilding on border. The others overall in good condition with some typical wear to the gilding around the borders. 1 oblong dish (472mm) Extensively crazed and stained. Shallow chip to underside of rim, approx. 4 x 2cm. some wear to gilding on border. 1 oblong dish (360mm) Some light surface scratching to centre. Some wear to gilding on border 36 dinner plates 9 in overall good condition with typical wear to gilding 9 with quite a lot of wear to the gilding 2 plates with riveted repairs and some staining 1 plate with restored chips to rim and a haircrack 2 plates with haircracks and chips to rim 4 plates with hairscracks and some staining 5 plates with rim chips 4 plates with extensive staining 12 dessert plates One has a 2 inch haircrack to the rim. The remainder in overall good condition with some typical wear to the gilding. 9 soup plates All with some wear to the gilding 3 soup tureens, covers and stands (285mm) Tureens – one has a broken section out of foot, approx 2 inches by 1 inch at deepest point. The scroll moulded handle terminal on another tureen has been broken off. Some typical wear to gilding on each tureen. Covers – I has a large crack, approx 7 inches length and a chip. One has extensive wear to the gilding. The third in overall good condition. Stands – 1 has two haircracks, each approx 2 inches. All with some wear to the gilding. Some small chips to the inner rims. 1 tureen stand (288mm) Some small chips to the inner rim 1 rounded oblong vegetable tureen and cover (240mm) Some wear to gilding 1 rounded oblong vegetable tureen cover (225mm) Long chip to knop. Chip to rim 1 two-handles rounded oblong bowl (350mm) Some wear to gilding 2 sauce tureens and stands 1 tureen has a crack to the rim, approx. 3 inches length, and two rim chips. The other in overall good condition with typical wear to the gilding. Covers are lacking. 1 stand has a crack to the rim, approx 2 inches length. 3 rounded oblong fruit bowls (310mm) 1 has two cracks to the rim, the largest approx. 5 inches length and chips to the foot rim. All three with some wear and staining to the interiors and some wear to the gilding. 3 rounded oblong small shallow dishes (180mm) 1 has a crack to the rim, approx. 3 inches and some staining. Another dish is extensively stained. The third with some staining to the centre and some wear to gilding.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

An exceptional opportunity to acquire a unique component of Austen family life.

This dinner set, familiar to Jane Austen, has been in the Knight family ownership since purchase. It is extremely rare for items with such a direct Jane Austen association to be offered for sale.

On 16 September 1813 Jane Austen wrote a letter to her sister, Cassandra, in which she noted a visit with her brother and a niece to Wedgwood's in London:

...We then went to Wedgwoods where my brother and Fanny chose a Dinner Set. I believe the pattern is a small Lozenge in purple, between Lines of narrow Gold; - and it is to have the Crest.

(see Deirdre Le Faye, Jane Austen's Letters, Oxford, 1995, p. 224).

The decoration corresponds to pattern no 424 in Josiah Wedgwood's first pattern book. The first order appeared in Wedgwood's books two days after Jane's letter, on 18 September 1813 with a repeat order for the same pattern and crest on 10 May 1827.

Jane Austen's brother, Edward Austen (1767-1852), was made heir to his distant cousin Thomas Knight in 1783. From him Edward Austen inherited three estates: Steventon, Chawton and Godmersham. In 1812 he officially took the name of 'Knight'. Evidently a year later he commissioned a dinner service from Wedgwood and Jane Austen was present at the time of choice and purchase.

Jane Austen was a frequent guest at her brother's house in Chawton and would have seen, used and eaten from these dishes many times. She worked on all six of her novels while living at Chawton Cottage.

Several pieces from this dinner service were formerly loaned by descendants of Jane Austen's brother's family to the Chawton House where they were displayed in the dining room.