Posted 8 years ago
Jean123
(66 items)
I found these in a thrift shop -- they seem to be quite old, they are almost transparent, and the porcelain is very white and shiny. The painting on them looks to be by hand and is rubbed out in a few spots. There are a few bumps on them where there were imperfections while they were made.
They seem unusual to me and look like they might be really old but maybe not. Any ideas?
Thanks for the great photos. Definitely hand painted. The ears on the cups are slightly dissimilar.
Thanks Efesgirl -- good catch about the ears. I was so busy looking at the other aspects I didn't notice that at all.
I did a course on Georgian tea cups, and one of the things to look out for are very deep saucers, which these seem to be. Shiny white porcelain may be continental as they tended to have hard paste porcelain whereas English porcelain is often soft paste porcelain, softer and warmer to the touch. They are very pretty, and look to be old. (Chinese porcelain often has a bluish tinge and is always hand painted!).
Thanks Adele -- I love CW -- where else could you find someone who did a course in Georgian tea cups!
Good old WI! I still don't know enough, and if I find an interesting cup, I often have to email the course lecturer. Trouble is, she is very knowledgable, but often can tell a cup just by its feel! Cups were made by fashion shapes too, and I think yours are early 1800 or earlier, but I have been wrong before. Also you can date them by the handle shapes! (And this is really just English cups).
I have a cup that is almost identical to this! I bought it more than 30 years ago when I lived in England. The dealer told me that it was 18th C and was probably painted by a genteel young lady. As I recall she said that China painting was something young women did along with embroidery and watercolors. Tho I don't recall reading ant it in Jane Austen... My cup also has a blue circle win a red flower w silver leaves and stems painted on the side opposite the handle. When I can figure it out I will post some photos. Would love to know more as well.
PS. I had the impression that it was a one of a kind since it had been painted by someone as a pastime. Nice to find out that more of them exist in the world!
thanks for the info Corinne. I am eager to see yours when you post it. Maybe they were all painted at a party -- who knows?
Hello at last Jean123. I have finally had a chance to take pictures of the tea cup that matches yours but see no way to add them to this thread. Do you know if this is possible or should I start another thread or email separately? I also unearthed another bit of info. Found an appraisal that I had done many years ago of several antique pieces which also included this tea cup. He said it was Circa 1800 and was "possibly Gaudy Welsh". This appraisal was done in 1997 in the Chicago area. It is taking me a while to unearth all of this because we just moved a few months ago and I have left these boxes to the end to unpack!
Corinne -you need to post a new show & tell item.