Butter Boat, Two Peony Rockbird Pattern, Worcester, circa 1755

An unusual shape with an uncommon painted pattern: Fringed Tree. The combination is scarce. Workman’s mark.   In the 18th century, sauce boats were a common serving vessel used ...

Hexagonal teapot stand, with transfer print decoration of The Milkmaids. From an engraving by Richard Hancock, one the best and most important of the en...

Rare Worcester Porcelain Sauce Boat with Early Flowering Plants Pattern, c1762 Additional information: Date : 1758-1765 Period : George II - George III Marks : bold hatched crescent...

This is a very charming orphaned coffee cup made by the Bow Porcelain factory in about 1755. The cup is decorated in a Chinese "famille rose" peony pattern. This cup would have been part of a large tea service, and the tiny size shows how expensive coffee was in the 18th Century. The Bow Porcelain Factory was one of the first potteries in Britain to make soft paste porcelain, and most probably the very first to use bone ash, which later got perfected by Josiah Spode to what is now the universally used "bone china". Bow was the main competitor of the Chelsea Porcelain Factory, but where Chelsea made very fine slipcast porcelain, Bow made a different soft paste porcelain that tended to be softer and could be pressed into moulds. Bow served a larger public generally at lower prices. The factory was only in operation between 1743 and 1774, after which the tradition got incorporated into some of the later famous potteries such as Worcester and Derby. The cup is unmarked, which is normal for Bow items of this era. Condition report the cup is in excellent condition without any damage or repairs. There are various glazing imperfections, which are quite normal for porcelain of this era. Antique British porcelain...