Caughley Fluted 'Armorial' Sucrier and Cover, Stunningly
decorated in underglaze blue and rich gilding, painted with the arms of the
'Hardy' family, underglaze Salopian 'S' mark, c1785
(p1090)
A spectacular and very rare Caughley sugar bowl and cover
(Sucrier). This stunning Caughley Sucrier is exquisitely decorated in underglaze
blue with extremely rich and fine gilding. It has on the front an elaborate
golden cartouche framed with jewel like blue and gold dots. In the centre of the
cartouche the armorial of the 'Hardy' family. This is a one off piece of
Caughley from a especially family commissioned tea set dating from c1785, thus
making it not only most beautiful, but very rare.
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The Sucrier is of the new fluted form; the cover with a pointed
button finial. It is decorated in underglaze blue and gilt and overglaze enamel.
The pattern of gilt foliate swags is the 'Royal Festoon' pattern and is
absolutely exquisite. There is an elaborate gilt foliate cartouche having an
inner border of blue and gilded dots. Inside the cartouche is an heraldic
device in the form of ' a dexter arm embowed in armour, holding in the hand
proper a dragon's head, erased sable'. This crest is recorded for the 'Hardy'
family of Toller Wilmer in Dorset.
This remarkable and rare Sucrier has the very rich and finely
gilded foliate swags around its body. These swags line up perfectly with the
same type of foliate swags applied to the cover of the Sucrier. The brightness
and honey rich colour of the gilding just incredibly shines out at you, amazing
quality and skilled workmanship.
The cover of the Sucrier has a scalloped rim. There is an
underglaze blue band round the rim, this having upon it a rich gilded border
design of a foliate line running through concentric circles. The blue band is
edged on both sides with gilt lines. There is a similar ornate gilded foliate
cartouche enclosing the gilded finial.
The fine workmanship of the gilders is evident upon close
inspection of their work on this piece of Caughley.
Inside the cartouche is an heraldic device in the form of 'a
dexter arm embowed in armour, holding in the hand proper a dragon's head, erased
sable'. This crest is recorded for the 'Hardy' family of Toller Wilmer in
Dorset. Other recorded branches of the Hardy family had various other beasts
within the grasp of the dexter arm and hand. Here the dragon, in grey and black
can be seen with its open mouth with razor shape teeth and red pointed tongue
extended out.
As well as the swags of gilded festoons around the outside body
of the Sucrier, there is a mirrored decoration with in the Sucrier, again making
this item that extra bit special.
The scalloped rim of the Sucrier is gilded. Inside the rim is a
band of rich underglaze blue decoration. On this is the same gilded border
pattern as on the rim of the cover.
Dropping inside the Sucrier is a garland of foliate swags. what
an additional surprise this is to behold when the cover is removed.
The underside of the Sucrier is marked with the underglaze
Salopian 'S' mark of the famous English Caughley factory. This handsome Sucrier
dates from c1785.
The cover of the Sucrier is decorated in exactly the same
fashion as the body of the Sucrier. The quality of the decoration is second to
none.
There is a pointed and gilded finial to the cover. Around the
finial is the same exquisite cartouche as surround the armorial on the Sucrier
itself, only this time circular instead of oval in its form.
There is an underglaze blue band round the rim, this having upon
it a rich gilded border design of a foliate line running through concentric
circles. the blue band is edged on both sides with gilt lines.
This is a very rare and handsome Caughley 'armorial' Sucrier
and Cover dating from c1785. Stunningly decorated in underglaze blue and rich
gilding, painted with the arms of the 'Hardy' family, underglaze Salopian 'S'
mark, this has to be among the best quality items to come from the Caughley
factory in the Eighteenth century.
Size and Weight: (values are approximate)
Marks:
The underside of the Sucrier is marked with the underglaze Salopian 'S' mark
of the famous English Caughley factory. This handsome Sucrier dates from c1785.
This absolutely amazing sucrier and cover are in excellent condition with no
chips, cracks, repairs or restoration. the gilding is in extremely good order
with just a minor amount of rubbing to the rim of the sucrier, cover and finial,
which is to be expected.
One of the finest Caughley sucriers to be had; this is a one off
piece for the connoisseur collector of Caughley or Early English porcelain.
