MEETING - Wednesday 16 September 2009
Anton Gabszewicz : TWO LONDON PORCELAIN FACTORIES - Chelsea and Bow, a Study in Contrasts
The founders of these two factories, Nicholas Sprimont, a silversmith (Chelsea) and Thomas Frye, a portrait painter (Bow) were both working within easy reach of the City of London and the Thames. They had both left their former professions to be pioneers in the risky new venture of porcelain manufacture.
The Chelsea porcelain factory was established around 1743-45. Early tablewares were being produced in profusion by 1750, drawing on Meissen porcelain models and silver prototypes, such as salt cellars in the form of realistic shells. Chelsea became known for its figures - in later years its inspiration came more from Sèvres porcelain than Meissen.
The Anglo-Irish painter Thomas Frye (1710 – 1762) was best-known for his portraits in oil and pastel. By taking out a patent on china clay to be imported from Virginia he founded the Bow porcelain factory, and claimed in his epitaph to be "the inventor and first manufacturer of porcelain in England", though his rivals at the Chelsea porcelain factory seem to have preceded him in bringing wares to market. The Bow porcelain works did not long survive Frye's death; their final auctions took place in May 1764.
Lecturer: Anton Gabszewicz – international specialist in English Ceramics for over 30 years
He began dealing in English Porcelain after leaving school and joined Christie's in 1975. There he catalogued British Ceramics' sales and prepared valuations for Insurance and Probate of both European and Oriental Porcelain from British country houses and abroad. For many years he was a principal auctioneer for the firm amd became a Director in 1989 when he took over as Head of the European Ceramics Department.
Since 1993 he has been acting for Christie's in a consultative capacity and has organised two Evening Education Courses on 18th Century English Porcelain. He also works as a world-wide independent consultant to collectors and museums. He appeared on the first Antiques Roadshow and broadcast with them for over a decade.
He has published several books and articles on English porcelain, being an internationally respected authority, especially on Bow Porcelain. He has lectured extensively in Britain, the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
Further details can be found on his personal website