This is a very charming coffee cup and saucer made by Worcester in their First Period (sometimes called the Dr Wall Period) in about 1760. The items are decorated in a black overglaze print of a pattern called the "Tea Party no.3".
I have several Worcester items available in black print, which together make a wonderful little tea set, please see separate listings.
The Tea Party pattern was very popular around this time as during the Rococo era, people got into the habit of drinking tea or coffee together. This particular pattern was created by Robert Hancock and was done in three different versions, this 3rd version being the rarest one. This image is an adaptation of an interior scene in Warburton's "Works of Alexander Pope". We can see a lady and a gentleman having tea and coffee, the gentleman serving himself from a tiny teapot, the lady from a silver coffee pot. The lady is also holding a treat for the dog under the table; the dog is waiting patiently in the foreground. There is a second scene on the reverse, where the maid is walking with a young dark-skinned servant who carries the kettle with hot water, presumably on their way to provide a top-up. They are chatting away.
The Worcester Porcelain Company was one of the first potteries in Britain to produce porcelain. Alongside other great potteries such as Derby, Chelsea and Bow, they pioneered a new industry that would grow out to be huge in the following century. This plate is from the first period, which is often called the "Dr Wall" period after its founder. In later years Worcester went through many different ownerships and styles, and ultimately it became the Royal Worcester factory that only finished operation in the early 21st Century.
The items are unmarked, as was common during this period.
Provenance: the Frank Herrmann Collection
Reference: page 387 of "Worcester Porcelain 1751-1790 The Zorensky Collection" by Simon Spero and John Sandon
CONDITION REPORT Both items are in excellent antique condition without any damage, repairs or crazing. There is some rubbing throughout; the black rimline on the cup is nearly worn off. There is a chip off the footrim of the saucer, which is not visible when in position.
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 (diameter): cup 5.6cm (2.25"); saucer 12.3cm (4.75")
