Pair of Double handled chocolate cups and covers with matching stands painted with scenes from John Home’s (1722-1808) Scottish drama Douglas (1756) and William Shakespeare’s (1564-1616) Tempest, Act II Scene I, 1824
These ‘outside-decorated’ Chamberlain Chocolate cups and stands illustrate the vogue for amateur china painting. The factory’s record books document a supply of blank porcelain and ceramic colours to a Mr and Mrs C. Hayton of Moreton, Hereford between May 1821 – March 1825. After painting them, the Haytons returned these wares to the factory for gilding, burnishing, and firing. Such pieces are understandably rare. China painting was an expensive hobby. The factory records indicate ‘gilding, burnishing and burning’ a chocolate cup cost over ten shillings, while a blank white cabinet cap and stand cost two shillings and six pence (£38 and about £10 respectively in 2022 prices).
Chamberlains was established in 1788 by ceramic decorator Robert Chamberlain (1736-1798) who had left the Worcester Porcelain company. Initially the enterprise was solely concerned with decorating rather than making porcelain, so blanks were purchased from the Caughley factory. However, friction arose between the rival firms, so Chamberlain started manufacturing his own porcelain from around 1794. Soon the company was outshining its local competitor, securing patronage from the Prince of Wales in 1807.
