Belleek Porcelain Cabaret Tea Set, Green Neptune, Victorian, 1891-1926

This is an extremely rare Belleek cabaret set for two, or "tête-à-tête", made in the Erne series brought out in the 1890s. The items carry the 2nd Black Mark, used between 1891 and 1926. The set consists of a teapot, a milk jug, a sugar bowl, two teacups and saucers, and a large matching tray. This set is very fine and with its restrained cream-white colour it would make a wonderful wedding gift! If you ever thought Belleek fine china looks, sounds and feels unique, you are right. There is a back story to this extraordinarily fine Irish eggshell porcelain, which has an unusually high amount of "frit" and therefore is thinner and finer than any other china. Pottery in Belleek (in the now Northern-Irish area of Fermanagh) had started in 1849 with John Caldwell Bloomfield, who was a wealthy land owner. During the Irish famine he realised that unless he would find a way for his tenants to make a profit off the land, they would starve. Agriculture had become impossible due to the agricultural diseases. This caused millions to starve and more millions to leave. As an amateur mineralogist, John Caldwell Bloomfield realised that his land had exactly the right mineral deposits to be used as clay for porcelain. He involved several investors and scientists and after many years of research, trial, error, the building of a railway line to import coal from England, and building a factory, the Belleek pottery resulted, employing the local people and soon producing the finest china made with clay from the Belleek area. What had started as a way to fend off famine among the local tenants had became a story of incredible success by the 1880s as Queen Victoria fell in love with the fine white china and the many homely, slightly bizarre but nature-loving designs; this was different from English tradition, yet it was very much to the taste of the British who had developed a real love for home-made fine china since it was introduced in the late 18th Century. Belleek not only brought out many tea services, but started a new tradition of intricately woven porcelain baskets. Soon the English nobility started to place big orders and the pottery is still flourishing today and selling its wares the world over, while in England most potteries have long disappeared. Belleek made many cabaret services, often called breakfast services or "tête-à-tête" services; these were used to carry breakfast tea up to the bedroom. Queen Victoria bought one in the Echinus style during a visit to the factory in the 1860s, and ever since Belleek's cabaret services have been in great demand. Nowadays there are very few of these left and it is rare to find a full service like this. The Erne series was named after the river right besides the Belleek factory. This river forms the border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, with the factory on the Northern Irish end of the bridge at Belleek. The pattern seems to be a play on the baskets and nets of the fishermen who once fished the abundant trout and salmon on the river Erne and the lake that belongs to it. The items carry the second Black Mark, which was used between 1891 and 1926, however the very fine quality of the porcelain indicates that most pieces of the set are more likely to be from the 1890s than from the 20th Century. You will see that the shade of cob lustre is different on each item; this is normal for Belleek tea sets...

This is a very rare and stunning cabaret "solitaire" tea set, serving one. The set was made by the Flight & Barr factory in Worcester between 1792 and 1804, and it consists of a larg...

A solitaire tea set consisting of a teapot with cover on a stand and a trio consisting of a teacup, a coffee cup and a saucer, in “half orange” shape with deep cobalt blue and yellow...

A matched solitaire tea set consisting of a teapot with cover, a sucrier with cover, a milk jug and a matched trio consisting of a teacup, a coffee cup and a saucer. With pink ground...

A stunning French Empire style coffee service, dating from around 1950, and comprising a coffee pot, six cups and saucers, a lidded sugar bowl and a cream jug. Crafted from white and...

The beautiful set comprised of a tea or coffee pot, a cream jug and a sugar bowl with lid and twelve cups and saucers, each piece with gilded borders; Portuguese exquisite Porcelain,...

This striking Art Deco tea set by ROBJ Paris exemplifies the bold geometry and luxurious finish that defined the era. Featuring a vibrant emerald green glaze paired with rich, meta...

Elegant 19th century porcelain in white gold and crimson raspberry. The teapot with lid, sugar bowl with lid, creamer, two tea cups with tray. The tray measures 17 wide, 12.75 deep a...