Cabinet plate with central panel painted after Jean-François Millet’s (1814-1875) L’Angélus (The Angelus)
Carrying their company backstamp, Telford of Bournemouth commissioned this cabinet plate from Haviland, Limoges, a leading French porcelain company. This was a significant commercial investment, so Telford was clearly a prominent local retailer. It was purchased by Merton in 1902.
Jean-François Millet’s L‘Angélus (1857-1859) was one of the most popular devout images of the Victorian era. It shows two peasants, who have stopped in the fields to say the Angelus, a prayer that marked the end of the day’s work. It was faithfully reproduced by Soustre, one of the best Limoges painters.
The origins of the Haviland porcelain company lie in the United States. Recognising the fine quality of French porcelain, David Haviland opened an import company in New York in 1838 and went on to find his own manufactory in Limoges, the main source of china clay in France. Success was quickly achieved, and he became one of the most innovative and productive French porcelain manufacturers. The company supplied porcelain to the most famous hotel restaurants, the Ritz and Shangri-La in Paris and the Dorchester in London. Given these credentials, it is hardly surprising that Merton, a leading hotelier, wanted to add Haviland Limoges to his collection.
