A good Minton part dessert service copying the...

A good Minton part dessert service copying the 'Victoria Pierced Service', date code for 1860, comprising a tall comport and six plates, designed by Pierre-Emile Jeannest, painted by Thomas Kirkby with scenes of putti with baskets of flowers and flowing scarves seated on clouds, the reticulated rims with pink rose diadems in turquoise foliate panels, the comport raised on a shaped trefoil stem with three biscuit porcelain figures of children, printed and impressed marks, 26.5cm max dia. (7)

The 'Victoria Pierced Service' was purchased by Queen Victoria on the preview day of the Great Exhibition in 1851. Comprising 116 pieces in total, the Queen later presented the service to the Emperor of Austria and it is now on display at the Hofsilber -und Tafelkammer at the Hofburg in Vienna. The combination of the unglazed Parian figures with the turquoise border in emulation of Sèvres' Bleu Celeste was praised at the Exhibition for its 'original design, high degree of beauty and harmony of effect'. It was the first time that glazed and unglazed decoration had been used to combined effect in this way.

Following the success of the display at the Great Exhibition, several duplicate sets were made, with some pieces being shown at the Paris Exhibition of 1855. Related items are in the Royal Collections Trust (RCIN 5000041), and a duplicate custard stand is on display at the Victoria and Albert Museum, Accession No. 454-1854.