This is a beautiful teacup and saucer made by Spode in about 1810. The set is decorated with the famous Imari Tobacco Leaf pattern 967, which was first introduced by Spode in 1806.
 
I have several more teacups available, please see separate listings or ask me.
 
Josiah 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 everyone ever since, and he was also the leading potter behind the technique of transferware, making it possible for English potters to replace the import of Chinese china that had come to an end around that time, with their own. This was fundamental to a thriving industry that would last for about 150 years and provide half the world with their tableware.
 
This wonderful Japanese-inspired Imari pattern of tobacco leaves, fences and other details, is pattern number 967, one of Spode's most famous Imari patterns. The items are potted in Spode's very white and fine porcelain and shaped in the bute shape, which was used until about 1812.
 
Provenance: the Frank Herrmann collection
 
CONDITION REPORT Both teacup and saucer are in good antique condition without any repairs or crazing, and only minimal wear. There is, however, an old rim crack in the teacup (see last image), which is reflected in the price. The cup is perfectly usable in spite of the crack and the fact that it shows brown means it has been used for years.
 
Antique British porcelain is never perfect. Kilns were fired on coal, and this meant that china from that period can have some firing specks from flying particles. British makers were also known for their experimentation, and sometimes this resulted in technically imperfect results. Due to the shrinkage in the kiln, items can have small firing lines or develop crazing over time, which should not be seen as damage but as an imperfection of the maker's recipes, probably unknown at the time of making. Items have often been used for many years and can have normal signs of wear, and gilt can have signs of slight disintegration even if never handled. I will reflect any damage, repairs, obvious stress marks, crazing or heavy wear in the item description but some minor scratches, nicks, stains and gilt disintegration can be normal for vintage items and need to be taken into account.
 
There is widespread confusion on the internet about the difference between chips and nicks, or hairlines and cracks. I will reflect any damage as truthfully as I can, i.e. a nick is a tiny bit of damage smaller than 1mm and a chip is something you can easily see with the eye; a glazing line is a break in the glazing only; hairline is extremely tight and/or superficial and not picked up by the finger; and a crack is obvious both to the eye and the finger. Etcetera - I try to be as accurate as I can and please feel free to ask questions or request more detailed pictures!
 
DIMENSIONS (diameters) teacup 8.1cm (3.2"); saucer 13.6cm (5.35").