What do a dormouse and polar bear have in common? While either would ordinarily be an unwelcome guest at a dinner table, they happily both make an appearance in the mysterious menagerie known as the Coalport Animal Service. Manufactured by John Rose in the early 1800s, pieces from this zoological themed porcelain dessert and coffee set have surfaced occasionally throughout the 20th century. Now, Brunk Auctions is thrilled to offer 28 pieces of Coalport’s Animal Service in our upcoming February American & Southern Sale. Offered in two lots with provenance to the extended family of President H.W. Bush, this group appears to be the largest known collection of this service, and features nine previously undocumented animals including several big cats and domestic animals. Making their debut in this sale are the jaguar, leopard, and black tiger, the zebra, the coach dog, the wild cattle, the improved Holstein or Dutch breed, the Cheviot ram, and the Chamois goat.

Surrounded by a cobalt ground, the animals featured are based on woodcuts by Thomas Bewick from the fourth edition of A General History of Quadrupeds published in 1800, which contains over 200 wood block plates of four legged creatures from around the world. In a survey conducted in 2025 by Barry Newland, 46 of Bewick’s 224 animals are known to have appeared on various serving pieces including shell-formed dishes, compotes, and more. Previously documented animals include the domestic cat, cur fox, spotted cavy, greyhound, hare, racehorse, badger, dormouse, and ferret, all of which are offered in this sale.

A compote with a central well featuring a polar bear on a grassy ground can be found in the collection of the Shrewsbury Art Museum and Gallery. The example offered in the February sale is depicted on it’s more natural landscape of an arctic ground.

Modern interest in the service dates to 1970, when several pieces were acquired by Britain’s Clive House Museum, now the Shrewsbury Art Museum and Gallery. More pieces have come to market since then, most recently ten pieces sold in nine lots at Hall’s Fine Art in 2024 regenerating interest among the collecting community. 

Most animals appear only once on a particular piece, though several animals are now known to appear on multiple pieces, including the New South Wales Wolf, domestic cat, the lesser dormouse, fox hound, turnspit, and comforter. Multiples of pieces sharing form and decoration suggest the possibility that more than one service was made.

The Coalport animals have continued to pique the interest of collectors and ceramic scholars alike. A square serving dish centering a tiger is featured as the frontispiece in Michael Messenger’s book Coalport, 1795-1926: An Introduction to the History and Porcelains of John Rose and Company. In volume 33 of the Northern Ceramic Society Journal, Roger S. Edmundson notes that differences in artistic styles throughout the known pieces suggest the collaboration of at least two artists, and links Charles Muss to the decoration of the service.

Though the breadth of the service remains unknown, more light may be shed with the emergence of this group. We are excited to bring this rare and large collection of wonderful pieces to market, and hope you will join us February 25 for our American and Southern sale.

Click here to register to browse all lots and register to bid.