Ridgway, Pair of Porcelain Foliage Candlesticks, Pattern 1070, C.1825–1830

A rare pair of antique English Georgian porcelain candlesticks, manufactured at Shelton, Staffordshire by the John & William Ridgway partnership, circa 1825–1830. The candlesticks are finely potted in bone china and modelled in the elegant 'Foliage' shape (also referred to as the 'Tulip' shape), featuring richly moulded columns and scalloped circular bases composed of overlapping tulip-like leaves.

The form is officially documented in the Ridgway Pattern Book, where a closely related candlestick is illustrated under Pattern 1074, while an example decorated in Pattern 1019 is reproduced by Geoffrey A. Godden in Ridgway Porcelains (1985), p. 39, Plate 36, from the original Ridgway pattern book preserved in the archives of The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery.

The surfaces are elaborately hand-painted in rich maroon (puce) and pale apricot overglaze enamels, with the moulded leaf ornament, veins and scalloped rims finely highlighted in hand-applied gold leaf. Both candlesticks retain the original handwritten factory pattern number 1070 in puce enamel beneath the base. As is characteristic of many Ridgway porcelains produced during this period, the undersides are otherwise unmarked. The unglazed wavy footrims display honest age-related shelf wear and a natural historic patina.

Despite an extensive search of specialist reference sources, dealer archives and the wider antiques market, no directly comparable pair has been identified. The apparent absence of recorded examples strongly indicates that these Ridgway porcelain candlesticks are among the rarest surviving products of the John & William Ridgway partnership and were produced in very limited numbers.

Dimensions: Candlestick 1: Weight: 356 g; Height: 20.4 cm; Base Diameter: 11.5 cm.

Candlestick 2: Weight: 363 g; Height: 20.4 cm; Base Diameter: 11.5 cm.

Please study the accompanying photographs carefully as they form an integral part of this description. If you have any questions, we will be happy to answer them. The item will be shipped with full tracking and insurance. It is important to note that shipping costs include labour, packaging and postage.

Condition: Both candlesticks are in exceptional antique condition. Under close magnification, a few minute enamel craze lines are visible, but these are insignificant and invisible to the naked eye. The colours and gilding remain exceptionally well preserved. Examined under UV light, both candlesticks show no evidence of restoration, repairs, cracks or chips. They present almost as if unused