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Mrs Anne Mathews Gift
Stoke-on-Trent, The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery
Shelley Potteries, Stoke-on-Trent
Tea Service, Queen Anne shape, Garland of Fruit pattern no 11705
c.1930, bone china, height  of teacup 7cm, width of bread and butter plate 21cm


This tea service for six people was produced at Shelley Potteries, Stoke-on-Trent. The factory was founded in 1853 as Wileman & Co at Fenton, Stoke-on-Trent, passing into the hands of the Shelley family in 1884. The firm adopted the trademark ‘Shelley China’ after 1910 although it continued to trade as Wileman & Co until 1925 when it became first Shelleys and then, in 1929, Shelley Potteries.

The firm had a reputation for producing high quality bone china and earthenware in contemporary forms. Walter Slater was the firm’s Art Director from 1905 to the early 1930s, when he was succeeded by his son Eric. It was Eric Slater who designed the popular Queen Anne shape in 1926 which was in production for 7 years. Over 170 different patterns were used on this shape. This one, no 11705, Garland of Fruit was introduced in 1929

The service was a wedding present to the donor’s parents, Herbert Wilcock & Winifred Bray in April 1931.

Given Through the Art Fund by Mrs Anne Mathews

Provenance By descent from the donor’s parents