Samuel Alcock Coffee Cup, Swansea Style, circa 1820

This is a beautiful coffee cup and saucer made by Samuel Alcock around 1830, which was the Rococo Revival era. The set is decorated with a bold Imari pattern and has a "ring-moulded" shape. Samuel Alcock was one of the many potters in Staffordshire such as Spode, Coalport, H&R Daniel and many others during the 1830s and 1840s. He was perhaps not the most well-known of potters but produced very high quality wares and original designs, often standing out for their bright choice of colours and beautiful shapes. The Alcock factory is not well documented so although they had a huge output, items are often mis-identified and we don't know much about the production process of artists, even though the wares have a very high quality that equals that of the more well known factories. The Rococo style was originally a style of the 18th Century. After the Baroque style, which was highly symmetrical and well-designed as it aimed to express the perfection of God, the Rococo style was a reaction that expressed the unpredictability and flow of nature. "Rococo" is derived from the French word "rocaille", which stands for a mass of pebbles that are self-organised in a completely unpredictable mess, for instance on the beach or in the mountains. Rococo moved away from the stranglehold that religion had on the arts: it was capricious, asymmetrical, charming and worldly. As Europe got mired in various wars between Germany, France and Britain, the general style got much more austere again and people embraced neo-classicism. But in the 1830s and 1840s, the seemingly unlimited fortunes of the Industrial Revolution sparked a revival of Rococo, once again creating natural shapes that are not always symmetrical and don't particularly make rational sense. This coffee cup can...

A teacup and saucer in the “half orange” shape, white with simple gilt rim and beautiful hand painted flower sprays Pattern unknown but similar to 1082 Year: ca 1823 Size: cup diameter 10cm (4”), saucer diameter 14.2cm (5.5”) Condition: excellent, some rubbing to gilt There are several items available in this design, please see group image and ask for more info if interested. The Samuel Alcock factory was operative in Staffordshire between 1822 and 1856, after which it was bought by Sir James Duke and Nephews. The factory started as a partnership between the young Samuel Alcock and the older Ralph Stevenson, who provided the factory and capital. Alcock quickly took the factory to great heights, building one of the biggest factories of its time. Alcock jumped on the new Rococo Revival fashion and served a huge new middle class market. The reason we now don't hear much about Samuel Alcock porcelain...

A solitaire tea set consisting of a teapot with cover on a stand and a trio consisting of a teacup, a coffee cup and a saucer, in “half orange” shape with deep cobalt blue and yellow...

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...

A solitaire tea set consisting of a teapot with cover, a milk jug and a small cup and saucer, in “melted snow” shape, the cup with double drop handle, with deep cobalt blue ground, r...

A teacup and saucer with ring handle, with green and pale yellow ground in Japanese style, and beautiful flower studies in the centre of each item and a little ladybird on the saucer...

"Four piece set of antique mid 19th century Samuel Alcock porcelain tea / coffee cups and saucers featuring turquoise blue with florals and gold gilding. Samuel Alcock (1799–1848) was a leading pottery manufacturer who operated as Samuel Alcock & Co in Burslem, Staffordshire from 1828 to 1859. They were especially noted for ""picture jugs"" modelled and moulded in relief in various ceramic materials, a popular type of object in these years. Samuel Alcock & Co. Alcock was born in Kingsley, Staffordshire. He was the youngest of the nine children of Thomas (1746–1816) and Catherine Alcock (1756–1838). Though from a farming background, he developed an interest in commerce after working with his uncle Joseph Locker, a grocer, tea dealer, provision dealer, chandler and banker of the Market Square, Hanley. His introduction to pottery came when he embarked upon a partnership with Ralph Stevenson of Cobridge, Staffordshire. In 1828, Alcock developed his own business and began work on the Hill Top site in Cobridge. By the 1830s Stevenson employed 600 people at his works. In 1839 he completed work on a large factory, built in the Venetian style, on the junction of Westport Road and Greenhead Street. In November of that year a party to celebrate the opening was held at the George Hotel...

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...

Very beautiful vintage Italian white porcelain with gold gilt coffee or tea cup(s) by designer Richard Ginori, Italy, circa mid-20th century, circa 1960s. Colors include: gold gilt a...

Antique Chinese cup & saucer, circa 1840.

A very special English Royal Doulton for luxury retailer Davis Collamore & Co LTD, espresso coffee or tea demitasse cup and saucer set, ci...

Perfect for a double espresso! These nine "Dollar" pattern porcelain coffee cups are decorated in the exquisite "Dollar" pattern. Spode made this set in England circa 1820. The decor...