Penrose Antiques

Description

We have great pleasure in being able to offer for sale this rare and important William Billingsley decorated Derby comport dating from around 1785-1790 from the Sir Leslie Joseph Collection, the entirety of which was sold following his death at Sotherby's in 1992 for a total of 1.1 million pounds.

This lovely late 18th century Derby comport is of a scallop lozenge form raised on a pedestal foot. The comport is decorated with a Smith blue and gilt border around a central bouquet of flowers. The base of the plate carries the puce Duesbury mark along with the pattern number 100 and what looks like the gilders number 12. The base of the comport also carries Sir Leslie Joseph's original catalogue labels.

Pieces of 18th Century Derby in pattern 100 are described as originating from the Rothschild service, a large dinner service in this pattern that was sold by the Rothschild family via a London auction house - see “Derby Porcelain” by John Twitchett. Such a service would only contain 2 or 3 comports of this size.

The comport is just over 12 inches (31.2cm) long and 9.5 inches (24.5cm) wide and is in an excellent condition with only minimal wear to the decoration and gilding.