Chelsea Grape

An early octagonal body style produced by Jacob Furnival, it is rarely found with copper lustre banding. The basic Gothic lines are interrupted by the wide vertical panels at the lower section of the body. The only embossing is found at the handle terminals where elaborate foilage relieves the plain lines of the style.

Edward Walley decorated this widely popular design with a variety of lustre motifs. In addition to the Tea Leaf and related motifs, Walley also used Chelsea Grape and other various painted patterns.

The flared round tea service pieces flow to an extremely low waist and then are sharply indented to a shaped base. The shape of dinner serving pieces can be seen in the Register of Designs, British Patent Office, dated November 29, 1856.

An elegantly paneled style with leaf embossing at the handle terminals and surrounding the rosebud finial. Chinese Shape is found decorated with Tea Leaf or Teaberry motifs; even with gold lustre motifs on lighter weight bodies. Some examples by Anthony Shaw actually are in lustre band only and may be either panelled or smooth.  Red Cliff copied the lines and the distinctive Shaw tea leaf in their mid-20th century reproduction line.

The name for this oval body style is derived from the berry-like clusters on the finials of covered holloware pieces. Embossing on the body resembles tall stalks with leaves and berries at the upper end.