Miles Mason Porcelain Teacup Trio, Pagoda Pattern Blue White Transfer, ca 1810

This is a beautiful orphaned teacup made by Spode in about 1810. It bears a lavish Japanese-inspired Imari pattern. Spode was the great pioneer among the Georgian potters in England. Around the year 1800 he perfected the bone china recipe that has been used by British potters ever since, and he was also the leading potter behind the technique of transferware, making it possible for English potters to replace the Chinese export china, which had come to an end around that time, with their own designs. This was fundamental to a thriving industry that would last for about 150 years and provide half the world with their tableware. Spode porcelain is regarded as one of the highest quality porcelains around; for a soft-paste porcelain it is surprisingly hard and fine, and has a wonderful bright white colour. The pattern on this can is called "Dollar" pattern, a very famous pattern that was used by English potters in the 18th and early 19th Century. It is obvious why it is called “dollar” - but its origin is less obvious! It is thought that this pattern was derived from a very old Chinese pattern depicting a tree with elaborate foliage that hides a Chinese character representing longevity or happiness. Traditionally, this went with a an image called “Taotie”, which was used on very ancient bronze vases...

A teacup and saucer with milk jug in the “melted snow” shape with double drop handles, pale yellow ground with rich gilt and cobalt blue acanthus pattern and finely painted flower re...

This is a porcelain blue and white, hand gilded Sucrier (Sugar Bowl) in the Broseley printed pattern made by Miles Mason (Mason's), Staffordshire Potteries, in the early 19th century, circa 1810. This piece is well potted with a lovely shape and twin side handles, but no lid. The sucrier is decorated in the under-glaze blue printed Pagoda or Broseley, chinoiserie Willow pattern, (sometimes called Boy at the Door pattern). There is hand gilded detail around the mid body, upper rim and on the handles. This piece is marked with the under-glaze printed mock Chinese seal...

A fine antique Welsh porcelain cabinet trio decorated in the Kingfisher pattern by sought after maker Swansea and dating from around 1820. The trio comprises of a teacup, a coffee cu...