Aynsley | 'Summer Chintz' Pattern C802 | Part Tea Service — Three Trios, Milk Jug & Sugar Bowl | Bone China | Circa 1940s | Excellent Condition

A summer meadow captured in bone china — cornflowers, clover, marigolds and forget-me-nots tumbling across every surface, the whole scene given depth by a cool mint interior that makes the colours sing.

BACKGROUND

Aynsley China, established in Longton, Staffordshire in 1775, is one of England's oldest and most respected bone china manufacturers. The 'Summer Chintz' pattern — registered as C802 — is among their most sought-after chintz designs, featuring a densely packed all-over transfer of summer wildflowers: cornflowers in blue and mauve, red clover heads, golden marigolds, forget-me-nots, orchid leaves and scattered smaller blooms across a cream ground. What sets this pattern apart from comparable chintz wares is the inspired pairing of the exterior chintz with a plain mint-green interior glaze — a combination that gives each piece a freshness and lightness rarely seen in heavily decorated china of the period. Chintz patterns of this quality, produced during and immediately after the Second World War, were made in relatively limited runs, and complete matched sets with serving pieces are increasingly difficult to source.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION

The set comprises three trios — each with a scallop-edged teacup, saucer and side plate — together with a large milk jug and a large open sugar bowl, making eleven pieces in total. The teacups are of a generous rounded form with a scrolled gilt handle and mint-green interior; saucers and side plates are scallop-edged with a mint-green well to the saucer centre. The milk jug is of a full baluster form with a high scrolled gilt handle, scalloped lip and mint-green interior. The open sugar bowl is of a wide footed form with a scalloped rim and fully mint-green interior. All pieces carry the 'Summer Chintz' transfer to the exterior and a fine gilt rim line throughout.

CONDITION STATEMENT

Excellent throughout. No chips or cracks on any of the eleven pieces. No crazing noted. Gilding is in mint condition — the gilt rim lines and handle detailing remain sharp and unfaded across all pieces. The chintz transfer is vivid and well-registered. The mint-green interior glaze is clean and unmarked.

KEY DETAILS

• Maker: Aynsley China, Longton, Staffordshire — Est. 1775
• Pattern: 'Summer Chintz', Pattern No. C802
• Backstamp: Green crown 'Aynsley / Est. 1775 / England / Bone China' — circa 1940s
• Pieces: 11 — 3 teacups, 3 saucers, 3 side plates, 1 large milk jug, 1 large open sugar bowl
• Material: Bone china
• Period: Circa 1940s
• Dimensions: Cup approximately 7.5cm h; Side plate approximately 16cm; Milk jug approximately 11cm h; Sugar bowl approximately 9cm h
• Gilding: Fine gilt rim line and handle detailing — mint condition throughout
• Condition: Excellent — no chips, cracks or crazing; gilding and transfer pristine
• Buyer profile: Aynsley collector; chintz china enthusiast; gift buyer seeking a complete, display-worthy tea service

The flowers have not faded — eighty years on, the clover still blooms and the cornflowers hold their colour, waiting for the kettle to boil.