
An extremely rare and highly important pair of Chelsea Eel tureens together with one stand, Circa 1755
Diameter: 6 ¾ ins (17 cms)
An extremely rare and highly important pair of Chelsea Eel tureens together with one stand. This very rare assemblage now comprising the only known pair together with the highly rare stand, each highly naturalistically modelled in a tight coil, the hollow slip cast looped tail forming the handle of the cover, the head to one side and looking out with a characteristic furtive look, naturalistically coloured in dark chocolate brown, which extends across the back of the fish, the lower body in yellow flecked with green and puce markings, bisected by a thin chocolate-brown dotted line. The stand is moulded in slightly raised relief with brightly coloured marsh plants, including the leaves of the marsh marigold, the buttercup, the bulrush, water hyacinth and the iris, all resting on a moulded basketweave ground and overlapping the rim at certain points, creating an irregular tromp l’oeill edge.