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ID #SA1236739
FOR SALE
£1,650
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A Rare Duesbury & Kean Period Derby Porcelain Pen Tray C.1810
For sale by Fine Antique English Porcelain
for sale €1,931     $2,096
£1,650
Fine Antique English Porcelain

Fine Antique English Porcelain

Sellingantiques Verified Since Jun 2021
Browse dealers 73 items
  • About Us
    Jonathan purt is a specialist in fine antique english porcelain
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Id #SA1236739
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A Rare Duesbury & Kean Period Derby Porcelain Pen Tray C.1810

18th century
Description

A very rare Duesbury & Kean period Derby Porcelain Pen Tray c.1810.  The rectangular shape tray with scroll-moulded handles and lions paw feet, boldly painted trompe l'oeil style with a deck of playing cards scattered on a black enamel ground, the centre with a DUTY card featuring the name LLEWELLYN, crown, crossed batons and D mark in red.

Playing card games was a popular pastime in the Georgian era. Favourite games were Whist, Cribbage, Piquet and Loo.

Condition: No damage or restoration. The gilding on the handles has been refreshed.

For a similarly decorated plate sold by Bonhams see: https://www.bonhams.com/zh-hk/auction/27666/lot/563/an-interesting-english-porcelain-playing-cards-plate-circa-1820/

A rare Derby porcelain Counter box and cover decorated with playing cards is illustrated by John Twitchett in his first book on Derby Porcelain – See plate 314, page 239.

Physical Dimensions
Width
28cm (11.02")
Depth
8.5cm (3.35")
Declaration

Fine Antique English Porcelain has dated this Derby Porcelain Pen Tray to the Georgian era.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA1236739
Dealers Notes

Jonathan Purt is an online dealer in the finest Antique English Porcelain.

Worldwide shipping available. Please ask for a quote.

For a larger selection of stock, please visit my online shop:

www.fineantiqueenglishporcelain.co.uk

Description
A very rare Duesbury & Kean period Derby Porcelain Pen Tray c.1810.  The rectangular shape tray with scroll-moulded handles and lions paw feet, boldly painted trompe l'oeil style with a deck of playing cards scattered on a black enamel ground, the centre with a DUTY card featuring the name LLEWELLYN, crown, crossed batons and D mark in red.
fig 1. A Regency porcelain pen tray featuring a hand-painted playing card motif on a black background, framed by twin gilded handles.
fig 1. A Rare Duesbury & Kean Period Derby Porcelain Pen Tray C.1810

Playing card games was a popular pastime in the Georgian era. Favourite games were Whist, Cribbage, Piquet and Loo.

Condition: No damage or restoration. The gilding on the handles has been refreshed.

For a similarly decorated plate sold by Bonhams see: https://www.bonhams.com/zh-hk/auction/27666/lot/563/an-interesting-english-porcelain-playing-cards-plate-circa-1820/

“
A rare Derby porcelain Counter box and cover decorated with playing cards is illustrated by John Twitchett in his first book on Derby Porcelain – See plate 314, page 239.
Fine Antique English Porcelain
Width
28cm (11.02")
Depth
8.5cm (3.35")
Date of Manufacture

Fine Antique English Porcelain has dated this Derby Porcelain Pen Tray to the Georgian era.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA1236739
Fine Antique English Porcelain
Fine Antique English Porcelain
Sellingantiques verified Since Jun 2021

Jonathan purt is a specialist in fine antique english porcelain

Dealer Profile

You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Fine Antique English Porcelain Profile Page

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A Regency porcelain pen tray featuring a hand-painted playing card motif on a black background, framed by twin gilded handles.
1 / 5
Archive I A Regency porcelain pen tray featuring a hand-painted playing card motif on a black background, framed by twin gilded handles.

A Rare Duesbury & Kean Period Derby Porcelain Pen Tray C.1810

Archive II A Regency porcelain pen tray featuring a hand-painted playing card motif on a black background, framed by twin gilded handles. View II
Archive III A Regency porcelain pen tray featuring a hand-painted playing card motif on a black background, framed by twin gilded handles. View III
Archive IV A Regency porcelain pen tray featuring a hand-painted playing card motif on a black background, framed by twin gilded handles. View IV
Archive V A Regency porcelain pen tray featuring a hand-painted playing card motif on a black background, framed by twin gilded handles. View V
Enlarged Archival View
Fine Antique English Porcelain

Fine Antique English Porcelain
Telephone 07791 358757
Location
Exeter
Devon
United Kingdom
Dealer Profile Page sellingantiques.co.uk/fineantiqueenglishporcelainco
Verified Since Jun 2021
Items For Sale 73
Items Sold 45
Fine Antique English Porcelain
Fine Antique English Porcelain
Verified Since Jun 2021
View Dealer Info
Location: Exeter, Devon, United Kingdom
Profile: sellingantiques.co.uk/fineantiqueenglishporcelainco
Verified
Jun 2021
For Sale
73
Sold
45
A Regency porcelain pen tray featuring a hand-painted playing card motif on a black background, framed by twin gilded handles.
A rare Duesbury & Kean period Derby Porcelain Pen Tray c.1810
Ref: SA1236739
A Regency porcelain pen tray featuring a hand-painted playing card motif on a black background, framed by twin gilded handles.
Detail View 1
Detail View 2
Detail View 3
Detail View 4
Archival Detail

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Cataloguer’s note

Written by Sellingantiques from the dealer’s photographs and listing
  • ObjectDesk Accessories
  • Period18th century
  • StyleRegency
  • MaterialPorcelain, Gold Leaf, Enamel
  • ColourGold and White
  • MotifsTrompe loeil playing cards, Gilded twin handles, Scalloped rim
  • SizeW 28 cm (11 in) x D 8.5 cm (3 in)

FAQs

During the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, British porcelain factories produced decorative pen trays to accompany formal writing sets. These trays were designed to hold quill pens, ink tools, and sealing wax on library writing desks.

Early nineteenth-century English porcelain was typically made from soft-paste or bone china compositions. Decoration involved hand-painted enamel illustrations, detailed gilding using mercury amalgams, and glazed finishes fired in kiln ovens.

Authentic Derby porcelain from this period often features factory marks stamped or painted in red enamel under or over the glaze, such as a crown over crossed batons with dots. Wear to the gilding on rim edges and specific soft-paste translucency also indicate period manufacture.

A porcelain pen tray can be placed on an office desk, console table, or bedside nightstand to store stationery items, keys, or small personal trinkets while adding a historical accent to the space.

Clean antique porcelain by dusting with a soft, lint-free cloth or washing gently in warm water with mild detergent. Avoid chemical cleaners, abrasive pads, and prolonged soaking, as these can strip hand-painted enamels and delicate gold leaf edges.
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