My overview of Connoisseur of Malvern’s porcelain bird studies will be divided into three posts, this first one focusing on the categories that I personally consider to be the most magnificent of their ‘birds’ genre. The incredibly talented sculptor Christopher Ashenden designed almost all of Connoisseur’s birds as well as most of their animals. RAPTORS…
The most frustrating thing about trying to catalogue the ‘open’ editions from Connoisseur is that their backstamps (unlike those on the limited editions) don’t always include the issue/introduction year. For example, if you didn’t happen to know – from a price list or other dated Connoisseur advertising – that the Azalea Blossom was part of…
Because this particular section of my site is intended as a reference source for Connoisseur of Malvern porcelain, it seems appropriate to create an index. It will be continuously updated as new images and/or sculpture data are discovered and added. Unlike the other studios profiled in my ‘Lost Porcelain Studios’ series, I will be including…
Having looked at their roses, orchids, and flower baskets in separate posts, the remaining Connoisseur of Malvern floral studies can be separated into limited and non-limited editions. Here are the known (to me; more will be added as I obtain photos of them) limited editions florals produced by the original 1980-1994 Connoisseur of Malvern studio.…
The Connoisseur studio created a marvelous group of porcelain studies focusing on butterflies; in fact, one series was called Butterflies of the World and was produced in collaboration with the Cecil B. Day Butterfly Center in Atlanta, Georgia. Brimstone with Bluebells at 10″ high, was a limited edition of 200 in 1980. It is said…
Orchids were a favorite Connoisseur floral subject and figured in more than a dozen of their limited- and non-limited-edition sculptures during the 1980s and early 1990s. The examples below are shown in chronological order by introduction year; studies for which that year is currently unknown are shown at the end. Pink Debutante is a graceful…
Floral studies created as a ‘basket of flowers’ were a particular specialty of the Connoisseur of Malvern studio. They were similar to their other flower studies in that they often focused on only one or two types of blooms, although there was at least one that was a delightful mix of seasonal garden delights. All…
Rose studies were a mainstay of the Connoisseur of Malvern porcelain studio during the 1980s. Most were designed by Diane Lewis – no surprise, in view of her expertise in flower making! I have included a bit of background about some of the actual rose cultivars that inspired the corresponding Connoisseur sculpture. Although roses occasionally…
The Chatsworth Lady 