BY HENRY CLAY, EARLY 19TH CENTURY

The London manufactory of Clay, located at King Street, Covent Garden (flourished c. 1801-1822) was established by Henry Clay (d.1812), who styled himself 'Japanner in Ordinary' to King George III and George, Prince of Wales. He had established his patent for manufacturing tea-trays, waiters etc. in 'high varnished paper' or pasteboard much earlier in 1772, when previously working in Birmingham. A related maroon set of Chinoiserie tea-trays of 'gold butterfly and foliage' pattern was sold anonymously Christie's London, 13 July 1989, lot 1; and a single one from the Villiers David Collection was sold Christie's London, 21 November 1985, lot 72.