Antique Redfern & Drakeford Bone China Tea Set for 12, 1870-1895

  

Exceptionally rare Victorian bone china tea service for twelve by Redfern & Drakeford, Staffordshire. Redfern & Drakeford was a small factory that operated for only around 25 years (1870 - 1895), making complete services of this size genuinely scarce. The service is decorated with a delicate blue chintz-style floral pattern with scattered flower sprays and a geometric diamond-diaper border on a swirl-moulded white porcelain body with gilt rims throughout. The bone china is of highest quality, the cups look so delicate and thin, almost weightless. The set comprises 40 pieces.

Note: there is a hairline crack to one cup, another cup and saucer were repaired and a dessert plate has a chip to the rim - all is clearly shown in photos. The colour remains vibrant and the gilt is largely intact on the exterior decoration. I know how to professionally pack fragile items.