Chelsea Birds
The Williamsburg Chelsea Bird porcelains were inspired by the exotic bird designs found on a set of plates produced by the Chelsea Porcelain Manufactory in England between 1758 and 1769. The original dessert plates are part of the Chelsea collection at Colonial Williamsburg, and may have been executed in the London workshop of James Giles, an independent ceramics decorator who was responsible for the decoration of many pieces of Chelsea. The four Williamsburg Chelsea Bird dessert plates are exact reproductions of plates in the collection. Mottahedeh has also adapted these delightful bird motifs onto dinner plates (set of 4), cups and saucers (set of 4), and a group of elegant accessory pieces. The pitcher, the vases, and the leaf and shell dishes incorporate the exotic bird designs into traditional shapes common to Chinese Export, English and Continental porcelain of the 18th century.