Welcome to this listing of this exceptional and very rare tea set and matching tray, produced by Powell Bishop & Stonier circa 1880's, very much falling within the Aesthetic movement, when Japanese design became highly influential within the decorative arts, such influential designers and architects like Dr Christopher Dresser, Thomas Jeckyll and William De Morgan, where all looking to the East for exotic inspiration. Designs to combat the Victorian obsession of reviving past styles.

It's really the start of modern design and sits along side the Arts & Crafts movement, with many common features and ethics.

                    

This tea set encapsulates this period with strong Eastern influences, it's even called the "Mikado" pattern and each main piece is stamped "Oriental Ivory".

Beautifully decorated. The black transfer pattern combines scattered sprays of prunus with random Japanese ornaments -- stylised chrysanthemums and multi-shape reserves packed with dense Japanese ground patterns.  Pink, blue, red and yellow highlights enhance the motifs, and gilt pin striping finishes each piece.  

Additional flair is achieved with the moulded scallop profile of the tray.

5 cups & saucers

1 Sugar bowl with lid

1 large tray on 4 small, squat, gadrooned feet

Dimension:

Tray - 48cm dia

Saucers - 12cm dia

Cups - 6.5cm dia (not including handle)

Sugar Bowl - 13cm x 10cm (not including handle)

Condition - Exceptional, the only actual damage is a small chip to the base of one of the cups (See images). A tiny hairline to one of the saucers and there is some age related crazing the glaze, most obviously on the tray but there is crazy throughout, apart from the cups.

Museum quality stuff in this condition and very rare to find.

A fine addition to anybodies collection and find me another of this quality in this condition!

I cannot offer returns or insurance to overseas bidders as nobody insures ceramics, unless anybody out there knows different. All I can promise is that it will be professionally packaged and i have had very few problems.

Please check out my feedback for reassurance.

Please study all the images very carefully as they form an important part of the description.

Check out my other listings, lots of beautiful and fascinating things listed.

Please bid/buy with absolute confidence as i have over 20 years experience selling on Ebay and am very confident in my descriptions but there is always a 100% money back guarantee on items if you are not happy with your purchase or it arrives damaged.

I have sent many very expensive items all over the world and pride myself in customer satisfaction. 

Items are always packaged extremely carefully.

Questions are welcomed.