Antique Samuel Radford 'Adria' Fruit/Dessert Small Serving Bowl (c. 1880s) - Imari-Style Floral
Add a touch of Victorian elegance to your collection with this charming small serving bowl from the rare 'Adria' pattern by Samuel Radford Ltd. Dating back to the 1880s, this piece is a lovely example of late 19th-century English bone china.
The bowl features the distinctive 'Adria' pattern, showcasing beautiful Imari-style pink flowers and delicate buds, accented by striking black leaves with fine gold detailing. The background is a subtle blend of yellow, brown, and green, featuring grasses and dots that complete the intricate design. A gold rim adds a touch of original luxury.
The bowl’s form is equally refined—measuring approximately 5.5 inches in diameter by 3 inches in height, it rests on a small foot with a slightly rounded base that transitions gracefully into outward-sloping, slightly convex sides. This gently flared silhouette gives it an elegant lift and presence, making it ideal for serving fruit, dessert, sugar, or for simply displaying its intricate beauty.
Details:
Manufacturer: Samuel Radford Ltd., Fenton/Longton, Staffordshire Potteries
Pattern: Adria
Date: Circa 1880s (consistent with backstamps used 1879–1891)
Type: Small Serving Bowl (ideal for dessert, fruit, sugar, or display)
Material: Bone China/Porcelain
Dimensions: Approx. 5.5 inches diameter x 3 inches height
Weight: 8.5 oz
Shape: Slightly flared with gently convex, outward-sloping sides and a small foot
Condition:
Very good antique condition. No chips, cracks, or crazing. The colours remain vibrant. There is slight, age-appropriate wear to the gold detailing around the top rim, consistent with its journey over 130+ years.
This delightful bowl would make a wonderful addition to any collection of antique English china or Radford wares. It's also a unique and thoughtful gift idea—especially for anyone named Adria, Samuel, or Radford!
Samuel Radford Ltd: A Brief History
Samuel Radford Ltd. was a prominent manufacturer in the Staffordshire Potteries, operating from 1879 until the mid-1950s. Samuel Radford began his career as a flower painter on china at around age 17, as recorded in the 1861 census. After working in partnerships at the New Market Works in Longton, he established his own business by 1879 and expanded to a china works in High Street East, Fenton in 1883.
The company was known for producing fine bone china, particularly ornate teaware and tableware that gained popularity in domestic and export markets including Europe, North America, and the British Dominions. By 1881, Radford employed 77 people and was growing steadily. The business remained in family hands with his sons William, Samuel Jr., and Frederick working as managers and clerks until 1931, when it was sold to Lieutenant Colonel Norman W. Elliott.
Production was suspended during World War II under the Wartime Concentration Scheme but resumed afterward. The company used various backstamps throughout its history, with early pieces (like those from the Adria pattern, c.1880) typically featuring an intertwined "SR" monogram within a circle surmounted by a crown. Manufacturing ceased in 1955, and the company was officially dissolved in October 1966.
The "Adria" pattern represents one of the company's early Victorian designs, dating to a period when the Aesthetic Movement and Japanese influences were transforming British ceramic arts.
Add a touch of Victorian elegance to your collection with this charming small serving bowl from the rare 'Adria' pattern by Samuel Radford Ltd. Dating back to the 1880s, this piece is a lovely example of late 19th-century English bone china.
The bowl features the distinctive 'Adria' pattern, showcasing beautiful Imari-style pink flowers and delicate buds, accented by striking black leaves with fine gold detailing. The background is a subtle blend of yellow, brown, and green, featuring grasses and dots that complete the intricate design. A gold rim adds a touch of original luxury.
The bowl’s form is equally refined—measuring approximately 5.5 inches in diameter by 3 inches in height, it rests on a small foot with a slightly rounded base that transitions gracefully into outward-sloping, slightly convex sides. This gently flared silhouette gives it an elegant lift and presence, making it ideal for serving fruit, dessert, sugar, or for simply displaying its intricate beauty.
Details:
Manufacturer: Samuel Radford Ltd., Fenton/Longton, Staffordshire Potteries
Pattern: Adria
Date: Circa 1880s (consistent with backstamps used 1879–1891)
Type: Small Serving Bowl (ideal for dessert, fruit, sugar, or display)
Material: Bone China/Porcelain
Dimensions: Approx. 5.5 inches diameter x 3 inches height
Weight: 8.5 oz
Shape: Slightly flared with gently convex, outward-sloping sides and a small foot
Condition:
Very good antique condition. No chips, cracks, or crazing. The colours remain vibrant. There is slight, age-appropriate wear to the gold detailing around the top rim, consistent with its journey over 130+ years.
This delightful bowl would make a wonderful addition to any collection of antique English china or Radford wares. It's also a unique and thoughtful gift idea—especially for anyone named Adria, Samuel, or Radford!
Samuel Radford Ltd: A Brief History
Samuel Radford Ltd. was a prominent manufacturer in the Staffordshire Potteries, operating from 1879 until the mid-1950s. Samuel Radford began his career as a flower painter on china at around age 17, as recorded in the 1861 census. After working in partnerships at the New Market Works in Longton, he established his own business by 1879 and expanded to a china works in High Street East, Fenton in 1883.
The company was known for producing fine bone china, particularly ornate teaware and tableware that gained popularity in domestic and export markets including Europe, North America, and the British Dominions. By 1881, Radford employed 77 people and was growing steadily. The business remained in family hands with his sons William, Samuel Jr., and Frederick working as managers and clerks until 1931, when it was sold to Lieutenant Colonel Norman W. Elliott.
Production was suspended during World War II under the Wartime Concentration Scheme but resumed afterward. The company used various backstamps throughout its history, with early pieces (like those from the Adria pattern, c.1880) typically featuring an intertwined "SR" monogram within a circle surmounted by a crown. Manufacturing ceased in 1955, and the company was officially dissolved in October 1966.
The "Adria" pattern represents one of the company's early Victorian designs, dating to a period when the Aesthetic Movement and Japanese influences were transforming British ceramic arts.
Add a touch of Victorian elegance to your collection with this charming small serving bowl from the rare 'Adria' pattern by Samuel Radford Ltd. Dating back to the 1880s, this piece is a lovely example of late 19th-century English bone china.
The bowl features the distinctive 'Adria' pattern, showcasing beautiful Imari-style pink flowers and delicate buds, accented by striking black leaves with fine gold detailing. The background is a subtle blend of yellow, brown, and green, featuring grasses and dots that complete the intricate design. A gold rim adds a touch of original luxury.
The bowl’s form is equally refined—measuring approximately 5.5 inches in diameter by 3 inches in height, it rests on a small foot with a slightly rounded base that transitions gracefully into outward-sloping, slightly convex sides. This gently flared silhouette gives it an elegant lift and presence, making it ideal for serving fruit, dessert, sugar, or for simply displaying its intricate beauty.
Details:
Manufacturer: Samuel Radford Ltd., Fenton/Longton, Staffordshire Potteries
Pattern: Adria
Date: Circa 1880s (consistent with backstamps used 1879–1891)
Type: Small Serving Bowl (ideal for dessert, fruit, sugar, or display)
Material: Bone China/Porcelain
Dimensions: Approx. 5.5 inches diameter x 3 inches height
Weight: 8.5 oz
Shape: Slightly flared with gently convex, outward-sloping sides and a small foot
Condition:
Very good antique condition. No chips, cracks, or crazing. The colours remain vibrant. There is slight, age-appropriate wear to the gold detailing around the top rim, consistent with its journey over 130+ years.
This delightful bowl would make a wonderful addition to any collection of antique English china or Radford wares. It's also a unique and thoughtful gift idea—especially for anyone named Adria, Samuel, or Radford!
Samuel Radford Ltd: A Brief History
Samuel Radford Ltd. was a prominent manufacturer in the Staffordshire Potteries, operating from 1879 until the mid-1950s. Samuel Radford began his career as a flower painter on china at around age 17, as recorded in the 1861 census. After working in partnerships at the New Market Works in Longton, he established his own business by 1879 and expanded to a china works in High Street East, Fenton in 1883.
The company was known for producing fine bone china, particularly ornate teaware and tableware that gained popularity in domestic and export markets including Europe, North America, and the British Dominions. By 1881, Radford employed 77 people and was growing steadily. The business remained in family hands with his sons William, Samuel Jr., and Frederick working as managers and clerks until 1931, when it was sold to Lieutenant Colonel Norman W. Elliott.
Production was suspended during World War II under the Wartime Concentration Scheme but resumed afterward. The company used various backstamps throughout its history, with early pieces (like those from the Adria pattern, c.1880) typically featuring an intertwined "SR" monogram within a circle surmounted by a crown. Manufacturing ceased in 1955, and the company was officially dissolved in October 1966.
The "Adria" pattern represents one of the company's early Victorian designs, dating to a period when the Aesthetic Movement and Japanese influences were transforming British ceramic arts.