A rare William Billingsley decorated at Mansfield bough pot, c1800.  Beautifully hand painted  with yellow and pink roses.  Potters stool mark to base.
 
William Billingsley began his career at the Derby Porcelain Factory.  There he gained a fine reputation as a painter, especially sought after were his studies of roses, usually in shades of pink and very seldom seen in yellow.  Whilst at the factory he developed a yearn to make the finest, whitest and most translucent porcelain and left the factory in 1795 to commence work on achieving this goal.
 
He first went to Pinxton and when the firing went well, produced some beautiful porcelain there, which is much sought after.  However, much of the porcelain spoilt in the kiln making it a very expensive venture indeed.  When his partnership with his investor was dissolved, Billingsley was deeply in debt, and made his way to Mansfield to live and decorate English and French porcelain there which he aquired "in the white".  This bough pot is a Derby blank which Billingsley bought and decorated.
 
In excellent condition, save for some restoration to the back.