A STAFFORDSHIRE STONEWARE CHICKEN TUREEN AND COVER (JOHN TURNER, LANE END)

Around 1780 the well-established Staffordshire potter John Turner (1738-1787) of Lane End, is said to have discovered a valuable vein of clay at Green Dock, which provided him with a highly refined creamy-white stoneware body. From this he made large numbers of crisply potted and decorated jugs and other tablewares. He was one of the leading potters of his day, a friend of Josiah Wedgwood, and was appointed Potter to the Prince of Wales in 1784. He had a retail outlet in London, from where he sold his wares. On his death, his refined stonewares continued to be made by his sons John and William until the business closed around 1806. This tureen graced the dining table at Avenue House during the 1934 royal visit where it was much admired by Queen Mary.

There is another example of this rare model in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, no. 2512&A-1901.