Assembled Minton Majolica Mushroom and Melon Tê

Assembled Minton Majolica Mushroom and Melon Tête-a-Tête Tea Set
Date cypher for 1862-1876
Impressed uppercase mark and shape no.'s 642
Naturalistically modeled with vine handles and shell feet, comprising a yellow melon-form teapot and mushroom-form cover, a cobalt-blue cream boat with snail thumbrest, a turquoise-ground bonnet squash-form sugar-bowl and cover, two brown-ground cups and leaf-shaped saucers, and an overlapping leaf-shaped tea tray with vine handle and white blossoms. Width of tray 16 inches.

Note:
Sets of this design were recorded at the Crystal Palace Exhibition, London, 1851.

Literature:
Majolica International Society, Karmason Library, no.
KL000195 & KL001507.

Reference:
KL000191-4 (for a related set from the Royal House of Hanover, note variant cup & saucer - a set of this design is known to have been gifted from Queen Victoria to her cousin Beatrix). Marilyn G. Karmason with Joan B. Stacke, Majolica, A Complete History and Illustrated Survey, New York, 1989, p. 2 (teapot).

C The Joan Stacke Graham Majolica Collection
Condition Report: Sugar Bowl and Cover: tip of snail finial has been repaired
Teacups and Saucers: a branch foot on each cup with professional restoration, and to a rim chip on one saucer and one snail foot; some surface has been sprayed, mainly on the reverse
Tray: restoration, overspray, mainly on underside; appears to be restored through front lobe; the area by the handle is clean

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