Coalport Hand-Painted Porcelain Serving Tray with Tulips by F. H. Chivers, 1909

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Pierced rococo scroll handles and a scalloped, shell-moulded rim frame this oblong porcelain serving tray. The broad outer border is … Read more Pierced rococo scroll handles and a scalloped, shell-moulded rim frame this oblong porcelain serving tray. The broad outer border is finished in a vibrant rose pink ground, enriched with foliate scroll gilding, diaper panels, and delicate swags that trace the shaped contours of the porcelain blank. A gilt cartouche encloses the hand-painted central reserve, which features a naturalistic still life of recumbent yellow and deep red tulips resting on mossy ground. The botanical scene is signed by coalport artist frederick h. Chivers ('f.h. Chivers') along the lower edge of the painting, executed with textured brushwork and fine tonal variation across the flower petals and foliage. On the reverse, the underside bears extensive calligraphic inscriptions in gilt script recording both craftsmen and the original recipient. It records that the tray was 'painted by f.h. Chivers' and 'gilt by c.h. Deakin', followed by the formal presentation note 'manufactured for, the rt hon. C.g. Milnes-gaskell. P.c. August 1909.' below this inscription sits the green printed coalport crown backstamp alongside the painted pattern reference number 'v.7580./d.' measuring approximately 32 cm in length by 22 cm across, this presentation tray was produced for the politician and magistrate charles milnes-gaskell following his appointment to the privy council. The precise gilding by deakin, paired with the detailed floral study by chivers, illustrates the bespoke high-grade cabinet wares produced at the coalport factory during the late edwardian era. See less