Popular in Victorian times, a centrepiece was designed to stand on a dining table or sideboard, and convey the theme of the gathering such as Christmas or Easter, as well as the social status of the owner. Often very elaborately made, they can take many forms, including epergnes, sculpture, multi basket containers for fruit or sweetmeats, and large bowls. They have been made in a variety of materials including glass, ceramics, silver, silverplate and bronze. Centrepiece is also the name given to the central feature of an item of jewellery such as a necklace or bracelet.

Among the most popular of the English porcelain factories among collectors is Royal Worcester. The Worcester porcelain company was founded in 1751.

The First Period of Worcester (1751-76) is sometimes called the Dr. Wall period after John Wall, one of the founders and major shareholders. During this period, Worcester was using the formula for soft paste porcelain which was obtained when they took over Lund's Bristol Porcelain works in 1752.

Worcester also introduced the use of transfer printing on porcelain in 1757, which reduced the need for hand painting which was time consuming and expensive.

In 1783 Thomas more...

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A Royal Worcester comport by James Stinton Jnr, 1929, boat…

A Royal Worcester comport by James Stinton Jnr, 1929, boat shaped with scrolling lug handles and raised on a moulded pedestal, featuring Highland cattle drinking from a stream, signed J Stinton to lower right of image, puce backstamp underside, 22 cm high

A suite of Royal Worcester bird themed ceramics with…

R. Austin Comport and Bowl Set with Bird Motifs

A suite of Royal Worcester bird themed ceramics with handpainted inclusions by R. Austin Comprising two comports, diameter 24.5 cm and nine bowls, diameter 21.5 cm,

A Royal Worcester comport by Kitty Blake, 1934, the boat shape…

Kitty Blake Royal Worcester Comport & Fruit Study Set

A Royal Worcester comport by Kitty Blake, 1934, the boat shape comport with moulded lug handles decorated with bramble fruits, autumn leaves and blossoms, signed K. Blake below rim, raised on an elaborate relief moulded gilt pedestal, puce backstamp…

A shell texture gilded comport by Royal Worcester, 1882,…

Royal Worcester Gilded Shell Comport on Dolphin Stand

A shell texture gilded comport by Royal Worcester, 1882, standing on an entwined dolphin, 14 cm high, 18 cm diameter

Royal Worcester pair of figural table comports with young boy…

Pair of Royal Worcester Figural Comports

Royal Worcester pair of figural table comports with young boy and girl, late 19th century, green factory mark to base with additional impressed mark, 19 cm high, 15 cm wide

A pair of Royal Worcester comports supported on a figured base.…

Royal Worcester Figured Base Comports

A pair of Royal Worcester comports supported on a figured base. Height 18 cm, diameter 20 cm.

A Hadley Worcester comport of semi-ovoid form, finely painted…

Worcester floral comport, 1903

A Hadley Worcester comport of semi-ovoid form, finely painted with flowers flanked by 'acanthus' scroll terminals, raised on a slender stem circular foot, green factory mark, shape H 280, date cipher 1903, 20 cm high.

A Royal Worcester porcelain fish footed shell comport, height…

Royal Worcester Porcelain Fish Shell Comport, 12cm

A Royal Worcester porcelain fish footed shell comport, height 12 cm

Royal Worcester 'The English Game' dinner serving wares…

Royal Worcester English Game Dinnerware Set

Royal Worcester 'The English Game' dinner serving wares comprising of two oval baking dishes, one scalloped pie dish, two lidded comports and four small two handled. All featuring different 'Game' including trout, golden plover and quail.

Royal Worcester porcelain footed centrepiece 19 cm height, 38…

Royal Worcester Porcelain Footed Centrepiece

Royal Worcester porcelain footed centrepiece 19 cm height, 38 cm length

A fine Royal Worcester centrepiece bowl and a trio, 1907 (cup…

Royal Worcester Rose Centrepiece and Trio Set

A fine Royal Worcester centrepiece bowl and a trio, 1907 (cup and saucer), 1917 (bowl) and 1920 (side plate), the shaped oval basin with broken scroll gilt handles and acanthus terminals raised on a moulded gilt base, hand decorated with roses on a…

Antique Royal Worcester comport pierced border, on blue ground,…

Royal Worcester Blue Comport with Pierced Border

Antique Royal Worcester comport pierced border, on blue ground, tri-footed base. Marked to base. Diameter 25 cm height 6 cm

Early Royal Worcester cake comport, with pink and gilt rim,…

Pink and Gilt Royal Worcester Cake Comport

Early Royal Worcester cake comport, with pink and gilt rim, diameter diameter 27.5 cm

A Royal Worcester boat shape comport having gilded handles and…

Royal Worcester Rose Comport with Gilded Handles

A Royal Worcester boat shape comport having gilded handles and rose decoration, signed M. Hunt, 19 cm high

A Royal Worcester porcelain shell form comport on stylised…

Royal Worcester Dolphin Shell Comport

A Royal Worcester porcelain shell form comport on stylised dolphin support

A Royal Worcester figured nautilus shell comport, English, 19th…

Royal Worcester Nautilus Shell Comport and Water Carrier Figure

A Royal Worcester figured nautilus shell comport, English, 19th century, together with a Royal Worcester figure of the water carrier, English, 19th century, the figure 24 cm high

Royal Worcester open pedestal centrepiece bowl with pink and…

Royal Worcester Floral Bowl with Mythical Beast Mask Base

Royal Worcester open pedestal centrepiece bowl with pink and ivory ground, hand painted floral design and trefoil mystical beast mask headed cornucopia to base, 22.5 cm high approx, circa 1896

A small Royal Worcester comport, 1926, with signature of Harry…

Royal Worcester Comport with Harry Ayrton Signature

A small Royal Worcester comport, 1926, with signature of Harry Ayrton, the lozenge shaped pedestal bowl with upward sweeping bracket handles, burnished gold to the interior and base, the interior well decorated with pears and summer berries, signed near…

Royal Worcester comport / cake stand, 'Prince Regent' pattern,…

Prince Regent Royal Worcester Comport/Cake Stand (25cm)

Royal Worcester comport / cake stand, 'Prince Regent' pattern, 25 cm diameter approx

Royal Worcester hand painted bone china comport, with gilded…

Hand-Painted Royal Worcester Bone China Comport

Royal Worcester hand painted bone china comport, with gilded handles and hand painted vignette of a castle, 20 cm high, 24 cm wide, circa 1920

Royal Worcester hand painted bone china comport, with gilded…

Hand-painted Royal Worcester bone china comport with castle vignette

Royal Worcester hand painted bone china comport, with gilded handles and hand painted vignette of a castle. 20 cm high by 24 across handles. Circa 1920.

Royal Worcester: porcelain comport (c1926) painted by Harry…

Harry Davis' Sheep Landscape Porcelain Comport

Royal Worcester: porcelain comport (c1926) painted by Harry Davis with iconic sheep in country landscape scene titled 'River Severn Nr Worcester'. Oval form with gilded border. restored and hairline crack. 32 cm x 20 cm x 8 cm.

A rare Royal Worcester figural centrepiece by James Hadley,…

Rare Royal Worcester Figural Centrepiece by James Hadley

A rare Royal Worcester figural centrepiece by James Hadley, 1898 of a young lady and a gallant under a spreading tree supporting a wide pierced basket, another basket at their feet, the whole on a rough soil ground, 41 cm high. Moulded signature, Hadley…

Royal Worcester porcelain miniature comport. Hand painted scene…

Hand-Painted Fruit Miniature Comport by Royal Worcester

Royal Worcester porcelain miniature comport. Hand painted scene of fruit