How about stepping back in time to discover a slice of London’s artistic and literary past? Here stands a blue plaque marking a spot of significant cultural history. This is the Chelsea China & Tobias Smollett Blue Plaque. It commemorates both the Chelsea porcelain factory and the novelist Tobias Smollett.
Chelsea China was a significant porcelain manufacturer. It operated in a house at the north end of Lawrence Street from 1745 to 1784. The Chelsea porcelain factory was the first important porcelain manufactory in England. It aimed its wares at the aristocratic market. Early products included cream jugs shaped like seated goats.
The factory’s history can be divided into four periods. These are named after the marks found on the wares. The first was the Triangle period from around 1743 to 1749. These early products bore an incised triangle mark. Most were white and influenced by silver design. Saltcellars in the shape of crayfish were notable. Goat and Bee jugs appeared in 1747 based on a silver model.
The Raised Anchor period followed from 1749 to 1752. The paste and glaze were modified. This created a clear, white, slightly opaque surface for painting. Meissen’s influence is evident in classical figures among Italianate ruins. They also drew inspiration from Francis Barlow’s edition of Aesop’s Fables. Chelsea made figures, birds, and animals inspired by Meissen originals. Flowers and landscapes were copied from Vincennes.
The Red Anchor period lasted from 1752 to 1756. Kakiemon subjects were popular. These were inspired by Japanese pottery and Meissen. Some tableware was decorated with botanically accurate plants. These were copied from Philip Miller’s The Gardener’s Dictionary.
The Gold Anchor period spanned from 1756 to 1769. Sèvres’ influence was very strong. This period featured rich colored grounds and lavish gilding. Chelsea was famous for its toys. These included bonbonnières and scent bottles. In 1769, William Duesbury of Derby purchased the factory. The wares became indistinguishable from Derby wares. This period is known as “Chelsea-Derby”. The Chelsea factory was demolished in 1784. Its molds, patterns, and workers were transferred to Derby.
Tobias Smollett also lived in part of the house from 1750 to 1762. Tobias Smollett was a Scottish satirical novelist. He was best known for his picaresque novels. These included *The Adventures of Roderick Random* and *The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle*. He also wrote the epistolary novel *The Expedition of Humphry Clinker*. Smollett obtained his M.D. from Marischal College, Aberdeen.
Smollett was known for his irascible and pugnacious nature. He was also infinitely energetic, courageous, and generous. He hosted leading literary figures at his Monmouth House home in Chelsea. Guests included Samuel Johnson and Oliver Goldsmith.
So here ends our glimpse into the intertwined histories of Chelsea China and Tobias Smollett. A porcelain legacy and a literary life linked together in a single place. Take a moment to reflect on the artistry and intellect that once thrived here.