Vintage Duchess Indian Tree 2 Tier Cake Stand Bone China Afternoon Tea Display

• Type: 2-Tier Tiered Cake Stand / Afternoon Tea Pastry Display Tower

• Designer: Traditional Staffordshire Ceramic Transfer Artist

• Brand: Duchess China

• Manufacturer: A. T. Finney & Sons Ltd. (Duchess China Works, Longton)

• Place of Origin: Staffordshire, England, United Kingdom

• Style: Traditional British Country House Chinoiserie

• Colour: Crisp White with Pink, Emerald Green, Turquoise Blue, and Bright Gold Trim

• Design Era: Mid-20th Century Vintage (c. 1960s)

• Material: Fine Bone China with Silver-Tone Metal Fittings

• Set Includes: Two Tiered Scalloped Square Plates with Central Pillar and Loop Handle Ring

• Features: Iconic Indian Tree floral layout, stylized gnarled branches, Greek key geometric band border, hand-painted gold gilt edges

• Condition: Very Good Vintage Condition (Slight underside rim chip to base plate)

• Size and capacity: Two-tier vertical assembly with graduated plates (Approx. standard 9" to 10" lower tier and 7" to 8" upper tier)

• Dating: This tiered serving piece dates strictly to the mid-20th century vintage era (c. 1960s). The specific backstamp reading "Duchess Bone China, Made in England" paired with a classic silver-plated teardrop loop handling finial is highly diagnostic of the premium post-war tea ware expansion manufactured in the heart of the Staffordshire Potteries.

• Historical Note: Produced by A. T. Finney & Sons at the historic Duchess China Works in Longton, Stoke-on-Trent, this stand showcases one of Britain's most enduring ceramic designs. Originating in the late 18th century as an English interpretation of traditional East Asian "Tree of Life" textiles, the Indian Tree motif is instantly recognized by its central gnarled brown branch blooming with vibrant pink lotus peonies, framed by an intricate geometric Greek key band. Duchess executed this pattern beautifully on their fine bone china blanks, capturing the timeless elegance of premium British hotel ware and afternoon tea etiquette for the period country home.

A quintessential centerpiece for traditional English table service, this vintage fine bone china two-tier cake stand is decorated in the highly collectible Indian Tree pattern. Constructed from premium Duchess bone china, the stand transitions smoothly from a substantial lower serving tier up to a smaller pastry tier, linked together by an elegant chrome or silver-tone metal center spindle that terminates in a sturdy handling loop.

Expert Identification & Design Features:

• Scalloped Square Profiles: Rather than basic round tiers, this stand utilizes premium square plates featuring soft, flowing scalloped edges and twin eared style rim details that enhance its historical silhouette.

• Polychrome Transfer Detailing: The intricate transfer print shows off a rich palette of pink lotus petals, delicate turquoise blossoms, and bright green foliage, completely framed by a sharp, classic geometric boundary wall.

• Gilt Finishes: Every outer rim edge is hand-finished with an attractive gold gilt trim strip, creating a bright reflective frame that beautifully gleams under dining room lighting.

This tiered stand is in very good vintage condition and presents beautifully for immediate table use. The fine bone china bodies are solid and ring true when tapped. The transfer decoration remains perfectly crisp and vibrant across both levels, and the hand-applied gold gilt rims are bright with virtually no cosmetic rubbing. Under close inspection, there is a slight, minor chip to the underneath edge of the lower scalloped square base plate rim. This is entirely contained to the underside surface, is completely smooth to the touch, and is absolutely not visible when the cake stand is assembled and placed upright on display. The silver-tone center hardware fits cleanly, tightening together perfectly to ensure both plates rest stable, level, and flat.

• Domestic Shipping: FREE UK TRACKED DELIVERY.

• International Shipping: We proudly ship worldwide via eBay International Shipping (eIS), ensuring robust built-in payout and return protections.

• Packaging: The stand will be carefully disassembled and shipped flat, wrapped in multi-layered bubble wrap and packed inside a rigid double-walled cardboard box to prevent any shifting or transit strain on the plates. Simple screw-together reassembly takes under a minute.

• Dispatch: Order before 12.00pm and we ship same day.

We want you to be delighted with your heritage find.

• Not as Described: In the unlikely event of an error in our listing, we will provide a full refund and cover the return postage costs.

• Change of Mind: We accept returns within 30 days; however, in these instances, the buyer is responsible for the return shipping costs.

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