THE BREADALBANE HEATHER PATTERN WORCESTER PORCELAIN BREAKFAST SERVICE CIRCA 1840 an extensive service, each piece painted with sprigs of heather on a white ground, centred with the Breadalbane coronet of a B below a crown, with gold rim, the service includes pieces commissioned from Flight, Barr and Barr, with brown printed mark Flight, Barr & Barr, Worcester and Coventry St London, and slightly later unmarked pieces. Comprising: twenty five small saucers, 14.5cm diameter (nine marked Flight, Barr and Barr) fifty four large saucers, 17.2cm diameter (thirty marked Flight, Barr and Barr) thirty one side plates, 19.6cm diameter (eighteen marked Flight, Barr and Barr) sixty five plates, 21.5-22.5cm diameter (thirty one marked Flight, Barr and Barr) twenty one plates, 25.5cm diameter (twelve marked Flight, Barr and Barr) fifteen egg cups four sugar bowls with covers three tall jugs, 18cm high two small cream jugs, 9.5cm high four small hot water pots (covers lacking), 12cm high one hot water pot with cover 13.5cm high three jugs with branch formed, handles 15cm high one round bowl, 11.5cm diameter five slop bowls, 18.5cm diameter fourty three large tea cups twelve coffee cups three cylindrical jars with domed covers, on stands, jars 11.5cm diameter (with an additional stand and an additional cover) four round muffin dishes with domed covers, 22cm diameter (with an additional cover)Provenance: Taymouth Castle, Perthshire Wooton House, Bedfordshire Thence by descent.Footnote: Note: This extensive rare and historic service comprises pieces from two distinct Worcester periods. Part of the service is pre-1840 and the pieces are marked with the Flight, Barr and Barr brown printed mark. In addition to these there is a large quantity of post-1840 unmarked pieces, which were made around the time when Chamberlain’s took over the running of the factory in 1840. The slightly earlier Flight, Barr and Barr pieces have subtle differences in the decoration, and are painted with bell heather rather than the common ling heather depicted on the unmarked pieces. This service may well be the first to have been produced in the Heather pattern. However, The Duke of Sutherland ordered an identical pattern service for Dunrobin Castle in Sutherland. Dunrobin was remodelled in 1845 so the service there is likely to be later, ordered after the renovations in 1845. The service offered in this lot was supplied to John Campbell, 2nd Marquess of Breadalbane, prior to the visit to Taymouth Castle by Queen Victoria and her consort Prince Albert in 1842. It was the royal couple's first visit to Scotland and they were guests of the Marquess from 7th - 10th September. The unmarked pieces are likely to have been an additional order to increase the quantities of the service, ensuring that it would be extensive enough to cater for the large volume of guests. In the Worcester archive there is an invoice, dated 1842, for approximately 53 pieces, at the cost of £8-12-11. It was delivered to Taymouth Castle in January 1843. One can speculate that these pieces were perhaps acquired to make up for any losses and damages to the service that had been incurred during the revelery of the royal visit. The Worcester archive also contains a letter dated Sept 26th 1843, from the Worcester Porcelain Works to the Marquess of Breadalbane, respectfully asking him to pay his invoice, nine months after it had originally been received. Then, also on record at the archive, is a written instruction from the Marquess ordering the payment to Chamberlain and Co Worcester Porcelain for the additional items, dated 27th October 1843. The 2nd Marquess, made huge efforts to make the royal visit memorable and a truly 'Scottish' experience for the couple. From arches of heather at the entrance of the castle and around the village, and an array of tartan dress on display, to finer details such as the use of the Heather pattern breakfast service, there was attention given to every aspect of the visit. Mrs Maule, a wife for the Liberal MP for Perthshire, was a guest at Taymouth Castle on the day of the Queen's arrival. Below is an excerpt from her diary: At 10, people in the park beginning to collect and the mist rising gracefully from the hills. The flags flying, birds singing and the hum of voices all round… From one o’clock we began to see people flocking into the Park, all the ladies with Tartan in scarfs or ribbons. 50 of Sir Neil Menzies tenants clad in their Tartan joined the rest in front of the house. Between 3 and 4 we began to expect the Queen and Prince and everything was put in readiness for Her reception. … Outriders and part of the escort preceded Her carriage and 6 other carriages followed… HM on reaching the door was welcomed by a simultaneous burst of cheering that echoed back again and again and anything so enthusiastic I never saw or heard. Lord Breadalbane at first stood in front of his splendid Highland Guard of 200 men and then having made a bow, bonnet in hand, he came round and assisted the Queen to alight and came up stairs to the drawing room where we were all waiting to receive her. [National Records of Scotland reference: GD45/26/89, pp.2-5] The Marquess wore highland dress and Queen Victoria commented in her journal, "it seemed as if a great chieftain in olden feudal times was receiving his sovereign". During the royal visit to Taymouth meals were provided for 730 people each day, including members of the royal party, guests, staff, pipers etc. While important Royal and invited guests would have had their lunch and evening meals served on and in silver, they would have had breakfast and refreshments from the Breadalbane Heather porcelain service being offered in this lot.
