Papier-mâché tray, Henry Clay of Covent Garden, ‘Japanner to George III’, circa 1815

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Large & Impressive papier-machê tray, by Henry Clay of Covent Garden, London, ‘Japanner in Ordinary’ to George III, printed & hand-painted in rich gold with all-over botanical specimens & life-size butterflies.

Circa 1815

59×75.5cm
Gilt in good condition, restored crack & bruise to one corner, some small repairs evident to back rim, displays superbly.

Henry Clay was operating at King Street, Covent Garden 1801-1822.  He was a manufacturer of lacquer wares from Birmingham. He had registered his patent for manufacturing tea-trays, waiters etc. in ‘high varnished paper’ or pasteboard there in 1772. With Royal patronage, he  styled himself ‘Japanner in Ordinary’ to King George III and George, Prince of Wales. He died in 1812, but his firm lived on, securing Royal Patronage from William IV, George IV, and Queen Victoria.
Queen Anne was a collector of lacquer wares, and the ‘Black Collection’ she put together is now housed in Frogome House.

The Royal Collection has a tray of the same foliage & butterfly pattern in red, in the ‘Black Museum’ at Frogmore House.
https://www.rct.uk/collection/53189/tray

Another from ‘The Collection of Dallas Bache Pratt (1914-94)’ sold Christie’s London, 16 March 1995, lot 65.

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