Shelley | 'Harebell' | Pattern 13544 | Richmond Shape | Trio | Fine Bone China | England | Mid-20th Century

Shelley | 'Harebell' | Pattern 13544 | Richmond Shape | Trio | Fine Bone China | England | Mid-20th Century

Harebells in periwinkle blue, on china thin enough to let the light through.

Shelley Potteries of Longton, Stoke-on-Trent, made fine bone china until 1966, known for its thin, translucent body and delicate decoration. Renamed Shelley China Ltd in 1965, the business was acquired by Allied English Potteries the following year, bringing Shelley production to an end. The green Fine Bone China England backstamp on this trio belongs to the post-war period, from about 1945 to 1966. The Richmond shape, in use from 1938 to 1966, is a round, gently footed cup with a plain loop handle, a restrained form that lets the decoration carry the piece. Harebell, here pattern 13544, depicts trailing sprays of harebells (Campanula rotundifolia, the Scottish bluebell) in soft periwinkle blue with green foliage, on a white ground with a blue feathered scroll border at the rim.

The cup is of the Richmond round form, translucent when held to light, with a scalloped rim edged in gilt and a blue feathered scroll border running just below it. The exterior carries a naturalistic spray of harebells in periwinkle blue and soft lavender with fine green stems and rounded leaves. The handle is a plain pale blue loop. The foot is plain with a gilt line. The saucer and side plate both carry the same harebell spray continuing around the well and surface respectively, with the blue scroll border at the scalloped, gilt-edged rim. The side plate shows a fuller arrangement of the trailing harebell sprays across its surface with large green leaf forms prominent at the centre. The interior of the cup is plain white with a single gilt rim line.

There are no chips, cracks or crazing on any of the three pieces. The gilding on the rim lines of the cup, saucer and side plate is intact with no wear or loss. The blue scroll border is crisp and unfaded throughout.

Key Details

• Maker: Shelley Potteries Ltd, Longton, Stoke-on-Trent, England
• Pattern: Harebell, pattern number 13544
• Shape: Richmond
• Backstamp: Green mark — Shelley Fine Bone China England (post-war mark, c.1945–1966)
• Pieces: 3 — cup, saucer, side plate
• Material: Fine bone china
• Decoration: Trailing harebell sprays in periwinkle blue and lavender with green foliage; blue feathered scroll border at rim; gilt rim and foot lines throughout
• Gilding: Gilt rim lines to cup, saucer and side plate; all intact
• Condition: Excellent — no chips, cracks or crazing; gilding intact

Collector Appeal

A complete Shelley Harebell trio on the Richmond shape, with its gilding intact.

A cup thin enough to show light through is either a feat of engineering or an act of faith — with Shelley, it was always both.