Curious Curator: Royal Worcester Set

Happy 100th Birthday to our Royal Worcester set in the collection!

This set is often used on the Breakfast Room table at Parkwood, and we thought we would give it a centennial birthday treat by highlighting it with a blog entry.

This hand painted enamel set, is from 1915. It is registered as 645537, pattern c897, English Bone China.

Royal Worcester was found in 1751 by a group of English businessmen. Dr. John Wall, and apothecary owner William Davis,  discovered a method of making a porcelain material, persuading a group of thirteen local businessmen to back their discovery with an investment in a new factory at Warmstry House, on the banks of the River Severn as the Worcester Tonquin Manufacture.  This new porcelain product out-shone the others because, "they obtained licences to mine soapstone in Cornwall and worcester soapstone porcelain did not crack when boiling water was poured into it; giving worcester a significant advantage over other producers."   Increased tea consumption in the 1760’s created a huge demand for teawares, bringing prosperity to the Worcester factory, especially since the porcelain did not crack under the heat of tea. The company was awarded the royal warrant in 1789.
Worcester played a major role in the development of the English porcelain tradition, going through several name changes over the years and merging or taking over other manufacturers, Worcester are now known as Royal Worcester Porcelain Co.

In 1976, Royal Worcester and Spode merge, today being called Royal Worcester and Spode.



 

 pattern detailing

 



floral close up