Welsh Armorial Porcelain: Nantgarw and Swansea Crested China

In the 18th and 19th centuries, European ceramics factories produced armorial porcelains in response to the imported Chinese armorial porcelain services. This study provides the first comprehensive assessment of armorial porcelains from the Nantgarw and Swansea China Works, discussing the methodology for identifying unknown armorial bearings and crests. It also considers the difficulties in attributing armorial heraldic achievements that are only minimally depicted and calls for further studies using historical documentation.

Format: Hardback
Length: 352 pages
Publication date: 06 May 2022
Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland AG

In the 18th and 19th centuries, European ceramics factories produced a significant amount of armorial porcelain in response to the influx of armorial porcelain services from China, which featured the coats of arms and crests of aristocratic families. While most porcelain manufactories have identified and documented these armorial services, the production of armorial porcelain by the Nantgarw and Swansea China Works has not been extensively explored. As a vital component of the comprehensive forensic appraisal of porcelain, a functional and decorative artwork that is integral to our cultural heritage and its preservation, the recording and identification of these artefacts hold significant potential for the future establishment of a database of factory production.

The Nantgarw and Swansea factories operated briefly in the second decade of the 19th century, producing high-quality and desirable armorial porcelain. These factories were highly appreciated by Georgian households, and examples of their work can be found in numerous museums and ceramics collections today. The interest in armorial porcelain continues to captivate specialists and the general public alike.

This text offers the first comprehensive examination of armorial porcelains from these two factories. It provides a detailed methodology and procedure for identifying unknown armorial bearings and crests, with individual bearings discussed in depth and existing incorrect assignments in the literature re-evaluated. The challenges in attributing armorial heraldic achievements that are only minimally depicted are considered, and directions for further studies using historical documentation are invoked.

In conclusion, this book fills a currently existing gap in the literature by providing a comprehensive assessment of armorial porcelains from the Nantgarw and Swansea China Works. It offers valuable insights into the production of armorial porcelain and its significance in the history of ceramics.

Weight: 888g
Dimension: 162 x 242 x 28 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783030974381
Edition number: 1st ed. 2022