Victorian Jennens & Bettridge Papier Mâché Tray, c. 1840

A Jennens & Bettridge papier mâché tray, lacquered and painted by hand with flowers to the centre and framed within a border of gilded scrolling foliage. It is impressed with the crown and ‘Jennens & Bettridge Makers to the Queen’ on the back.

The tray is in unrestored condition, with wear and scratches to the paintwork and to the lacquer surface. There is one bit of damage to the edge.

Jennens & Bettridge (1810/13-1860/1) are the best-known manufacturers of English papier mâché. The partnership between Aaron Jennens and John Bettridge began in Birmingham in 1810-13 and quickly grew. They later acquired Henry Clays Birmingham workshops who was Japanner to George III and the Prince of Wales leading to them opening branches in Belgravia London, Paris and New York. They claimed to have been the inventors of the gothic shape for trays which became synonymous with their brand and it was the gift of such a tray to George III which led to Jennens & Bettridge being appointed ‘Makers in ordinary to the King.’

Japanned papier mâché manufacture began in France in the 1740s. Developed by Guillaume Martin, sheets of paper were glued together and pressed into a mould. When dry, this produced a firm, hard surface ideally suited to the varnish known as ‘vernis martin’. Birmingham had experience japanning tinware and so was quick to embrace this new technique with Henry Clay taking out a patent in 1772. Although the term was dropped during the Napoleonic wars in favour of ‘paper ware’, by 1839 ‘papier mâché manufacturers’ returned as a separate trade in Birmingham directories.