This is a fabulous little Paragon china cabaret coffee set. It dates to the early 20th Century.
The term cabaret service (also known as dejeuner service) is used to designate small size tea or coffee services. A typical cabaret service - like this one - includes (in addition to cups and saucers) a teapot or a coffeepot a sugar bowl, a creamer.
Each piece has the highly collectable Star Mark – which was used on Paragon ceramics between 1900 and 1919.
Paragon china was synonymous with luxury porcelain good and they had a Royal Warrant when they were patronised by Queen Mary.
This set is certainly a very rare survivor and a beautiful high quality set. These would probably have been made with the idea of putting on display in a cabinet rather then daily use.
This set has a must attractive sky-blue glaze and the pieces are bound in silver which has been rolled out thinly to make it more malable and easier to shape on the ceramic body. The silver applique has then been finely soldered and fused onto the surface making it adhere to the ceramic body. The silver is not hallmarked and has been taken from a sheet and shaped to fit each piece in the set. It is a remarkable technique.
It is an exceptional set – and certainly one that you do not see that often. It is in near perfect condition – with only minor issues – which I will describe later for you.
The set consists of the following: A Little Coffee Pot (5 ¾ inches in height. 3 5/8 inches diameter a the base and from handle to spout it is 6 ¼ inches). A Little Open Sugar Bowl (nearly 2 inches in height and with a diameter of 2 ¾ inches at the top and 2 1/8 inches at the base). The Milk Jug (2 ¾ inches in height with a diameter of 1 ¾ inches at the top. It is 2 1/8 inch diameter of the base. It is 3 inches handle to spout.
There are a total six cups and saucers: The cups are 2 inches in height with a diameter of 1 ¾ inches. The saucers are just under 4 inches in diameter.
CONDITION: This set displays well - but sadly there are a couple of issues with it that I must point out to you. I have photographed these and listed here. I have added over 60 images - which will I hope show all the details that you might be interested in.
All pieces have no chips or cracks or crazing to the glaze. There is a little nick to the silver on the bottom of the coffee pot - and it would be easy to patch in a little bit of silver to the area. There is a little rubbing to the glaze at the foot of the milk jug, and a tiny ribbon on the decoration of one cup is missing. All of this is very minor in nature - and give the ages and delicacy of this lovely and very rare set - this is quite acceptable and taken into account with my pricing.
I will send to you as two separate parcels with Royal Mail Special Next Day Delivery so that the set is insured in transit. I will cap the postage at just over £10 for the one parcel.