This is a stunning dessert service made by Chamberlains Worcester between 1816 and 1820. The service consists of two big lozenge shape dishes, two square dishes, two kidney shaped dishes, two leaf shaped dishes, and eight plates.
 
The Chamberlain factory was founded in the 1780s by Robert Chamberlain, who was responsible for the decoration department in the famous Worcester pottery during the Dr Wall period. He set up his own factory with his son Humphrey, initially buying up stock from Turner's Caughley factory for decoration, but then around 1794 starting to produce their own porcelain. By the year 1800 they had built up a strong reputation, producing wonderful tea and dinner ware for the British and European nobility and becoming a mighty competitor of both the Worcester/Flight & Barr and Grainger factories. In the 1840s the factory merged back with Worcester, which later also bought Grainger and was formed into the later Royal Worcester. 
 
This service has beautiful surface moulding in the "Union" pattern, which was designed to signify the Act of the Union of 1801 that created the United Kingdom of England, Scotland and Ireland. It shows a rose for England, thistles for Scotland and Shamrocks for Ireland, all moulded in white on the sage green ground, which is very rare as it was extremely difficult to fire. Each plate has a central reserve with a unique botanical painting. The flower paintings are bold and absolutely sublime; each flower has been given the utmost care and character.  
 
An image of this same service can be found in plate 155, page 129 in Geoffrey Godden's book "Chamberlain-Worcester Porcelain 1788-1852".  This service first appeared in order books in 1816.
 
Most pieces are marked with the red printed Chamberlains Worcester New Bond Street mark.
 
CONDITION REPORT The service is in good antique condition and excellent for display or use. There is, however, some wear throughout, as visible in the pictures. There is a small amount of crazing on the underside a few pieces, but all pieces ring.
 
Antique British porcelain is never perfect. Kilns were fired on coal in the 1800s, and this meant that china from that period can have some firing specks from flying particles. British makers were also known for their experimentation, and sometimes this resulted in technically imperfect results. Due to the shrinkage in the kiln, items can have small firing lines or develop crazing over time, which should not be seen as damage but as an imperfection of the maker's recipes, probably unknown at the time of making. Items have often been used for many years and can have normal signs of wear, and gilt can have signs of slight disintegration even if never handled. I will reflect any damage, repairs, obvious stress marks, crazing or heavy wear in the item description but some minor scratches, nicks, stains and gilt disintegration can be normal for vintage items and need to be taken into account.
 
There is widespread confusion on the internet about the difference between chips and nicks, or hairlines and cracks. I will reflect any damage as truthfully as I can, i.e. a nick is a tiny bit of damage smaller than 1mm and a chip is something you can easily see with the eye; a glazing line is a break in the glazing only; hairline is extremely tight and/or superficial and not picked up by the finger; and a crack is obvious both to the eye and the finger. Etcetera - I try to be as accurate as I can and please feel free to ask questions or request more detailed pictures!
 
DIMENSIONS large comport 34 X 20.5 X 13.5cm (13.4" X 8" X 5.25"); sauce tureen  18 X 16.5 X 17cm (7" X 6.5" X 6.75"); square dishes 21 X 21cm (9" X 9"); kidney shaped dish 19 X 16.2cm (7.5" X 6.4"); shell dishes 21.5 X 15.5cm (8.5" X 6.15"); plates 22 X 22cm (8.6" X 8.6").