Powell Bishop & Stonier Porcelain Aesthetic Movement Tea Set

This porcelain Aesthetic Movement tea set and tray were spotted at the Brimfield Antiques market during the TCC Spring Conference last month. The Anglo-Japanese motifs of the pattern are typical of the Aesthetic Movement, which drew upon Japanese design elements and frequently incorporated sunflowers. The partnership of Powell Bishop & Stonier was in operation at the Church Works, Hanley, Staffordshire, from 1878 to 1891, producing earthenware and china. They were successors to other companies dating back to 1851. Partners Edwin Powell and Frederick Bishop died in 1890 and 1891, and a new partnership was formed between James Watson Bishop and John Stonier to form Bishop & Stonier. This name continued, with changes in ownership, until 1936 when the Stonier name was dropped. Bishop closed only three years later at the outbreak of World War II and did not reopen. This set is marked with a Wand of Caduceus backstamp and the hand-painted number 3808.