Royal Albert Crown China | 'Gem' Shape | Hand-Painted Cobalt, Gold Scrollwork & Floral Trio | Circa 1905–1907 | Mint Unused Condition

Cobalt and gold in the Edwardian manner — the kind of trio that sat behind glass for a century, waiting for someone who would know exactly what it is.

BACKGROUND

This trio bears one of the earliest Royal Albert backstamps in existence. The circular green 'Royal Albert Crown China' mark with the 'GEM' shape designation was used by Thomas C. Wild & Sons of Longton, Staffordshire for only a brief window — approximately 1905 to 1907 — before the brand's nomenclature evolved. Pieces carrying this specific mark are genuinely rare, predating the well-known Royal Albert name by nearly two decades and representing the factory at its most formally ambitious. The Edwardian period was the zenith of cobalt and heavy gilding in English domestic china, and the 'Gem' shape — with its deeply moulded, lobed cup body and ornate scrolled handle — exemplifies the decorative excess and technical confidence of that era. To find a trio from this period in mint unused condition is exceptional.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION

The trio comprises a teacup, saucer and side plate, all in the 'Gem' shape — characterised by a lobed, angular cup with a boldly scrolled and fully gilded handle, and deeply scalloped rims to both saucer and side plate. The decoration combines rich cobalt blue panels at the rim and handle junction with elaborate raised gold acanthus scrollwork, framing a central white ground on which bunches of red and yellow daisy-like flowers with lily-of-the-valley and green foliage are transfer-printed and hand-colour-enhanced. The cup interior carries a matching floral spray at the base with cobalt and gold scrollwork to the upper interior rim. The gilding throughout is lavish — applied to all rims, the handle, the scrollwork panels and the foot ring.

CONDITION STATEMENT

Mint unused. No chips, cracks or crazing on any of the three pieces. The cobalt ground is deep and even. The gilding is in exceptional condition — bright, fully intact and showing no wear whatsoever on rims, handle, foot ring or scrollwork. The floral transfer is sharp and the hand-applied colour enhancements are vivid. This trio has evidently never been used and presents as it would have at point of sale.

KEY DETAILS

• Maker: Thomas C. Wild & Sons, Longton, Staffordshire — trading as Royal Albert Crown China
• Shape: Gem
• Backstamp: Circular green 'Royal Albert Crown China / GEM' — circa 1905–1907
• Pieces: 3 — teacup, saucer, side plate
• Material: China
• Period: Circa 1905–1907 — Edwardian
• Decoration: Cobalt blue panels, raised gold acanthus scrollwork, hand-enhanced floral transfer — red and yellow daisy blooms with lily-of-the-valley
• Dimensions: Cup approximately 7cm h; Side plate approximately 16cm
• Gilding: Lavish gilt to all rims, handle, scrollwork and foot ring — mint condition throughout
• Condition: Mint unused — no chips, cracks or crazing
• Buyer profile: Serious Royal Albert collector; Edwardian china enthusiast; collector of early English backstamps; display buyer seeking a museum-quality single trio

Before the name became famous, the china was already this good — the Gem shape, the cobalt, the gold, and not a day's use in over a century.