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More than 5000 entries on the history, culture and life of Britain (published in 1993 by Macmillan, now out of print)
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Derby porcelain
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High quality porcelain figures were produced between 1750 and 1756 at a Derby factory run by Andrew Planché. They tend to have an unglazed rim round the base and are known as 'dry-edge Derby'. In 1756 Planché was joined in a new venture by William Duesbury (1725–86), who soon became the dominant partner and built up a successful business, mainly imitating the *Chelsea figures of the time (themselves based on Meissen). In 1770 he bought the Chelsea factory. The original firm at Derby lasted until 1848.
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It was followed by two separate ventures, which finally merged in 1935. One was set up in King Street in 1848 by a group of craftsmen from the earlier firm. The other was founded in Osmaston Road in 1877 as the Derby Crown Porcelain Company (from 1890 the Royal Crown Derby Porcelain Company, as it remains today). A crown was the main element of the Derby mark from the 1770s, but the phrase 'Crown Derby' – now in general use by non-specialists for any Derby product – was not part of the name of any of the companies until the late 1870s.
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