A very Fine and Rare Chelsea Porcelain Cauliflower Dessert Box and Cover, beautifully and naturalistically modelled the flower clasped within its leaves, painted in tones of green. The vegetable lying on its side revealing its cut stalk, the cover forming the upper part of the box with a leaf forming the finial.

A similar example is illustrated by John C. Austin, ‘Chelsea Porcelain at Williamsburg’, p. 99, no. 90. Cauliflower tureens and their ‘plates' or 'leaves' were listed in both the 1755 and 1756 Chelsea sale catalogues, sold by Mr Ford at his Great Room at the Haymarket. There appear to be only 4 reticulated Cauliflower plates that are recorded and that survive to this day. One of the six pairs listed in the 1755 Sale Catalogue, thirteenth day's Sale, Monday, March 24th, lot 29 as "Two beautiful Colly-flowers and plates.” An identical example in the Paul and Bunny Mellon sale at Sotheby’s 22nd November 2014, lot 466.

Marks:  Both with Red Anchor Marks, the Cover with numeral 2 in Red