Part cabinet service, composed of fluted teacups and fluted or straight-sided coffee cups with saucers and two serving plates, 1849
During its heyday in the 1840s, Davenport had four separate factories, producing earthenware and bone china, employing more than 1500 people. Davenport operated warehouses in Liverpool, Lubeck and Hamburg. The bulk of the factory’s production was ‘useful’ wares, mainly cups and saucers. By the 1850s the pattern numbers had reached 2000. This tea service can be dated to 1840, as pieces carry a printed registration mark.
In excellent condition, the gilding showing little signs of wear, the service probably spent most of its life in a cabinet. However, it was used on one special occasion, when Princess Beatrice (1857-1944), Queen Victoria’s youngest daughter, opened the Russell-Cotes Art Gallery and Museum extension in February 1919. Princess Beatrice was ‘entertained to tea in Lady Russell-Cotes’ boudoir’ by Mrs Ella Stebbing, Merton and Annie’s daughter, and their daughter-in-law, Mrs Edith Cotes, as sadly Annie was too ill to attend the ceremony.
