An important early Chelsea white 'teaplant' knife haft, circa 1745-49

Description

An important early Chelsea white 'teaplant' knife haft, circa 1745-49 Of generous size with a silver ferrule and steel blade, attractively moulded with spiralling arrangements of flowering tea plant branches issuing from a border of acanthus-like leaves around the base, 11.5cm long excluding fittings, the blade marked 'GR' flanking a crown and 'TIERCELIN' Footnotes: Provenance Watney Collection, Phillips, 22 September 1999, lot 10 Anton Gabszewicz Collection Literature Tony Stevenson, 'A Review of Chelsea, Chelsea-Derby and Derby Knife and Fork Hafts', ECC Trans, Vol.14, Pt.1 (1990), p.51, fig.2 Tony Stevenson states that the present lot was the only Chelsea haft confidently attributable to the Triangle Period. The moulded decoration closely follows that on other 'teaplant' wares from the period, see for example the coffee pot and cover from the Peter and Mary White Collection sold by Bonhams on 1 December 2025, lot 174. The decoration is probably inspired by two silver tea canisters and a sugar vase of similar date, now in the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston (inv. nos.1988.1075 to 1077), illustrated by Sally Kevill-Davies, 'Some new connections between Nicholas Sprimont's silver and early Chelsea porcelain', ECC Trans, Vol.31 (2020), p.121, fig.32. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing

Buyer's Premium

32%

An important early Chelsea white 'teaplant' knife haft, circa 1745-49

Lot 0084

Estimate £250-£350

Feb 12, 2026, 6:23 AM EST

Current Price (1 bid)

Secure

£240

2 bidders are watching this item

The Classics Online: British and European Ceramics

Feb 02, 2026 7:00 AM EST

London, UNITED KINGDOM, United Kingdom

An early Bow sauceboat, circa 1750: An early Bow sauceboat, circa 1750 Of oval shape with a pronounced lip and an elaborate scrolled handle, the body and foot moulded in high relief with floral festoons, decorated with gilt flower

An early Bow sauceboat, circa 1750

An interesting collection of early Bow porcelain, circa 1748-52: An interesting collection of early Bow porcelain, circa 1748-52 Applied with prunus sprigs and left in the white, comprising a twin-handled chocolate beaker with a gently flared rim, 6.6cm high,

An interesting collection of early Bow porcelain, circa 1748-52

An extraordinary Bow shell centrepiece or pickle stand and a triple-shell sweetmeat, circa 1750-55: An extraordinary Bow shell centrepiece or pickle stand and a triple-shell sweetmeat, circa 1750-55 Left in the white, the first of impressive three-tiered form, the broad pierced foot supporting

An extraordinary Bow shell centrepiece or pickle stand and a triple-shell sweetmeat, circa 1750-55

An interesting collection of Bow porcelain, circa 1750-55: An interesting collection of Bow porcelain, circa 1750-55 Applied with prunus sprigs and left in the white, comprising three plates, one of plain circular shape, 22.5cm diam, and a pair of octagonal

An interesting collection of Bow porcelain, circa 1750-55

A Bow mug and teapot and cover with Chinese prototypes, circa 1750-54 and 1740: A Bow mug and teapot and cover with Chinese prototypes, circa 1750-54 and 1740 The Bow mug or tankard with a spreading base, the grooved handle with a pointed lower handle terminal, painted in blue

A Bow mug and teapot and cover with Chinese prototypes, circa 1750-54 and 1740

An attractive Bow vase and cover, circa 1750: An attractive Bow vase and cover, circa 1750 Of tapering oviform, the domed cover with pointed finial, decorated in a famille rose palette with large blooming peony branches issuing from hollow

An attractive Bow vase and cover, circa 1750

A Bow teabowl, saucer and coffee can and small mug, circa 1750-58: A Bow teabowl, saucer and coffee can and small mug, circa 1750-58 The teabowl, saucer and coffee can painted in early bright blue with 'Camellia and Chrysanthemum' pattern, with tramline borders, the

A Bow teabowl, saucer and coffee can and small mug, circa 1750-58

Four Bow plates, circa 1750-60: Four Bow plates, circa 1750-60 Painted in famille rose palette, comprising a large circular plate with a broad rim, the centre painted with blousy peony and rockwork, 22cm diam, two octagonal plates

Four Bow plates, circa 1750-60

A Bow teabowl and small bowl, circa 1750-54: A Bow teabowl and small bowl, circa 1750-54 Painted in blue with a sail boat between two islands densely populated by trees and a pavilion or hut, the teabowl 8cm diam, painter's mark in the form of

A Bow teabowl and small bowl, circa 1750-54

A Bow bowl, a mug and a small dish, circa 1750-56: A Bow bowl, a mug and a small dish, circa 1750-56 Painted in famille rose palette, the bowl with a lobed rim, painted with peony and rockwork, a cell-pattern lappet border in brown with pink flowers

A Bow bowl, a mug and a small dish, circa 1750-56

An unusual and early Bow bowl, circa 1748-50: An unusual and early Bow bowl, circa 1748-50 With a shaped rim, painted with a Chinese figure standing next to a fence, one arm outstretched and holding a bowl of yellow fruits, standing near a

An unusual and early Bow bowl, circa 1748-50

A rare Bow conical bowl, circa 1756-58: A rare Bow conical bowl, circa 1756-58 Of small size, with a broad, neatly turned foot, the exterior painted in blue with a willow tree, two figures conversing on a mushroom-shaped platform and a

A rare Bow conical bowl, circa 1756-58

Four Bow coffee cups, circa 1752-55: Four Bow coffee cups, circa 1752-55 Three with plain loop handles, painted in bright blue with Chinese landscapes, one with a hut with a high conical roof among flowering bamboo and pylon trees,

Four Bow coffee cups, circa 1752-55

A collection of Bow tea and coffee wares, circa 1750-58: A collection of Bow tea and coffee wares, circa 1750-58 Decorated in the famille rose palette, comprising three teabowls painted with flowers and pierced rockwork, one also with a willow tree, a

A collection of Bow tea and coffee wares, circa 1750-58

A Bow patty pan and a cover from a sugar bowl, circa 1752-56: A Bow patty pan and a cover from a sugar bowl, circa 1752-56 The patty pan with flared straight sides decorated in bright blue with a stylised flowering plant to the centre, a formal lappet and

A Bow patty pan and a cover from a sugar bowl, circa 1752-56

Two early Bow bowls, circa 1750: Two early Bow bowls, circa 1750 The larger example decorated in the 'Island House' pattern, in a palette of iron red, brown, yellow and green, the islands and bridge highlighted in gilding, the

Two early Bow bowls, circa 1750

Four Bow bowls, circa 1750-56: Four Bow bowls, circa 1750-56 Painted in vibrant blue and comprising a small example painted with banana trees growing by a fence 11.5cm diam, the three larger bowls with Chinese riverscapes, one

Four Bow bowls, circa 1750-56

A Bow teabowl and five coffee cups, circa 1750-70: A Bow teabowl and five coffee cups, circa 1750-70 Painted in blue, the finely potted teabowl with banana trees, pine and a fence, an early coffee cup with a Chinese landscape including a pagoda, hut

A Bow teabowl and five coffee cups, circa 1750-70

A collection of Bow polychrome porcelain, circa 1750-65: A collection of Bow polychrome porcelain, circa 1750-65 Comprising a flat-bottomed sauceboat, with leaf-moulded sides, painted in famille rose style with wading birds by hollow rockwork and flowers,

A collection of Bow polychrome porcelain, circa 1750-65

A group of Bow porcelain, circa 1750-60: A group of Bow porcelain, circa 1750-60 The decoration of Japanese-inspired patterns and palettes, comprising a circular plate, a large bell-shaped mug and a coffee cup, all painted and gilt in

A group of Bow porcelain, circa 1750-60

Related Items

Native American Pipe Tomahawk North America, 19th Century (1800s): This trade dag knife, dating to the 19th century, represents a class of edged weapons produced for exchange within Indigenous trade networks across North America. Such knives were typically manufactur

Feb 18, 2026Native American Pipe Tomahawk North America, 19th Century (1800s)

Rare American Revolutionary War Spontoon - U.S.Made Polearm, Circa Late 18th Century: This is a rare and desirable American-made Revolutionary War-era Spontoon, a polearm weapon characterized by a central spear blade flanked by lateral wings or lugs. This piece reflects domestic Americ

Feb 28, 2026Rare American Revolutionary War Spontoon - U.S.Made Polearm, Circa Late 18th Century

European Renaissance 17th C French Silver Mounted Plug Bayonet: This late 17th-century French Plug Bayonet is a rare and innovative weapon of its era, designed to function as both a bayonet and a dagger. The handle features a threaded tang, allowing it to be <

Feb 28, 2026European Renaissance 17th C French Silver Mounted Plug Bayonet

Elegant Late 18th Century Gentleman's Belt Dagger with Horn Handle and Original Sheath: This refined late 18th to early 19th century belt dagger features a finely shaped horn handle and remains housed in its original sheath, an increasingly rare survival for daggers of this period. The p

Feb 28, 2026Elegant Late 18th Century Gentleman's Belt Dagger with Horn Handle and Original Sheath

Towle Old Colonial Sterling Silver Tea Knife 8 Inch Blade: Towle Old Colonial Sterling Silver Tea Knife 8 Inch Blade This exquisite tea knife features the classic Old Colonial pattern by Towle, crafted from sterling silver with a hollow handle and an 8" silve

629 Lots AwayTowle Old Colonial Sterling Silver Tea Knife 8 Inch Blade

18th C. Italian Nobleman Dagger Carved Horn Handle With Brass Mounts: Deceivingly deadly with a thick spined blade, single edged and resolute as a vow, bears mild patina under the weight of hidden vendettas. Brass guard adorned with geometric motifs, shields the mellowe

Feb 21, 202618th C. Italian Nobleman Dagger Carved Horn Handle With Brass Mounts

Unique American Civil War era Bowie Knife with Silver Handle: American Civil War era Bowie knife. Single edged clip point blade maintains sharpness beneath desirable light greyish patina. Attractive silver hilt with intricate niello foliage and floral motifs. Cl

295 Lots AwayUnique American Civil War era Bowie Knife with Silver Handle

Very Important Pre-Revolutionary Era French Plug Bayonet / Short Sword 1680-1710 | Rare Reversible!: This rare plug bayonet/fighting dagger dates a full century before the American Revolutionary War era, circa 1680–1710, and is likely of French military origin, a nation that would later play a crit

Feb 28, 2026Very Important Pre-Revolutionary Era French Plug Bayonet / Short Sword 1680-1710 | Rare Reversible!

Puiforcat Louis XVI Sterling Silver Knife Blunt 8 3/8" France Monogrammed: Puiforcat Louis XVI Sterling Silver Knife Blunt 8 3/8" France Monogrammed Enhance your dining experience with this exquisite Louis XVI style knife from Puiforcat. Crafted in France, this sterling silv

5 days LeftPuiforcat Louis XVI Sterling Silver Knife Blunt 8 3/8" France Monogrammed

Sheffield BOWIE KNIFE Eagle Pommel: English bowie knife by the renowned firm Saynor, Cooke & Ridal of Sheffield. Exhibiting notable proportions and classic clip point form. The substantial blade displays honest greyish patina with scatt

Feb 21, 2026Sheffield BOWIE KNIFE Eagle Pommel

Gorham Florentine Sterling Silver Fish Knife Custom 8 1/4": Gorham Florentine Sterling Silver Fish Knife Custom 8 1/4" Elevate your dining experience with this exquisite Florentine pattern fish knife from Gorham. Crafted from high-quality sterling silver, this

6 days LeftGorham Florentine Sterling Silver Fish Knife Custom 8 1/4"

Sterling Silver Handled Stainless Steel Blade Flat Bread Knife: This item is in good pre-owned, previously used/displayed condition with noticeable light wear, and surface scratches. Please reference all photos for full details. This piece of sterling silver has b

Jul 05, 2025Sterling Silver Handled Stainless Steel Blade Flat Bread Knife

Related Searches

Silver CollectiblesSteel CollectiblesPrice ResultsAuctions in London

TOP