Victorian ‘Wileman Foley’ Empire Shape Trio (Pre-Shelley)

This fabulous, rare, fine bone china trio was made in Staffordshire, England in the 1890’s by the ‘Wileman Company’ (Foley China), who later, in 1910 became ‘Shelley’ china. The trio has a very pretty and sort after shape known as the early ‘Empire’ design with scalloped edges and is beautifully decorated in an Imari styled pattern featuring cobalt blue underglaze, with reddish-orange floral decoration overlaid with a lovely, gold design and trim known as the ‘Japan Wileman’ pattern (6888). Each piece is stamped in red with the ‘Foley China W C & Co, England’ mark, used between 1895 – 1910, a gold painted pattern number ‘6888’ and two pieces are impressed with the number ‘Rd 115510’ for the shape, which was registered in 1888. This impressive trio is in excellent condition with no wear to the gilding.