An assembled Swansea pearlware and creamware part dinner and dessert service circa 1800-05

each piece finely painted with a flower specimen, titled on the reverse, within the brown-edged rim, the pearlware components comprising: a footed circular center bowl and cover (for a supper set), a footed canted rectangular dessert bowl, a footed two-handled dessert bowl, two shell-shaped dishes, four lozenge-shaped dishes, a silver-shaped oval dish, two oval sauce tureen stands, two sauce tureens, stands and three covers, twenty-eight dessert plates and twenty-nine side plates; the creamware components comprising: a footed two-handled dessert bowl, four shell-shaped dishes, five square shaped dishes, three deep oval shaped dishes, a small footed tureen, two sauce tureens, stands and a cover and twenty-three dessert plates, all with title inscriptions in red; some pearlware components with impressed SWANSEA, S or C, some with inscribed F to the footrim; together with two Davenport pearlware reticulated oval dishes and six dessert plates. 127 pieces.

Sotheby's New York, Property from the Collection of Mrs. Paul Mellon, November 22, 2014, lot 565

All with some occasional flaking to the brown enamels at the rim edge, some of which have been retouched. There is some overall wear and scratching to the enamels consistent with use. Otherwise in generally good condition, except: Pearlware components: Shell-shaped dishes: one with several chips to the footrim. Lozenge-shaped dishes: Two with some discoloration, one with some very minor discoloration to the center and the cavetto area; and the last broken into two and glued back. Silver-shaped oval dish: There is a 2-inch haircrack running down the rim. Sauce tureens, stands and covers: Covers, each with a tiny chip to the flange. One stand has an approximate 1-inch restored chip at the rim edge. The other stand with an approximate 1/2-inch haircrack running down the rim edge and an approximate 1/4-inch chip to the footrim. Dessert plates: One with a 1/4-inch haircrack running down the rim. Several have re-touchings to the brown enamels at the rim edge, covering flakings. One has an approximate 9-inch area at the underside of the rim with some chipping, which have been partially restored. One has an approximate 1/4-inch flat chip to the underside of the rim. One has an approximate 1/8-inch pinhead chip to the underside of the rim. Side plates: Several with some retouching to the brown enamels at the rim edge, covering flakings. One has a re-glued flat chip to the underside of the rim and another with an approximate 1/4-inch flat chip to the underside of the rim. Creamware components: Footed two-handled dessert bowl: Has an approximate 1/4-inch chip to the edge of one handle. Shell-shaped dishes: One with two 1-inch haircracks running down the rim. Another with some abrasions to the rim edge and a 3/4-inch chip to the footrim, Square shaped dishes: two, each with some minor discoloration and several short haircracks running down the rim. Small footed tureen: with several tiny chips to the footrim. Sauce tureens, stands and a cover: One sauce tureen has some discoloration to the interior and the other has several small glaze chips to both handles. Dessert plates: three plates with some minor overall discoloration. One has a tiny chip to the footrim. Davenport pearlware reticulated oval dishes: Some minor flaking to the brown enamels at the rim edge and scratches to the enamels consistent with use. Davenport dessert plates: Some minor flaking to the brown enamels at the rim edge and scratches to the enamels consistent with use. One has been broken into several pieces and glued back. Another has some minor glaze chips to the rim edge.
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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Although some of the Swansea pottery wares are not marked, they can be attributed to the factory mainly on the basis of the forms of the wares, the painting style and Thomas Pardoe's (1770-1823) distinctive title inscriptions on the back. The inscriptions on most of the pieces in the present service appear to be in a hand very similar to that of Thomas Pardoe, as illustrated by Jonathan Gray in The Cambrian Pottery, Swansea Pottery in London, 1806-1808, p. 140, fig. 6.3, although a direct attribution cannot be certain. The floral depictions are rendered after William Curtis's Botanical Magazine, published in London in 1787. 

A Swansea pearlware part dessert service, featuring various forms as in the present service, is illustrated by Jonathan Gray in The Cambrian Company, Swansea Pottery in London, 1806-1808, p. 205, fig. 6.77. Other examples, also similar to the pieces in the present service, are illustrated by E. Morton Nance in The Pottery & Porcelain of Swansea & Nantgarw, pl. XL, B-C  and pl. XLI, A-C.