Coalport Porcelain Cup and Saucer Set with Hand-painted Floral Motif c.1820

This is a highly attractive early example of a Coalport porcelain cup and saucer set.

The cup is of classic ogee form, with a gently scalloped rim. It is moulded with a scroll and floral pattern below the rim, although this bears no relation to the painted motif. The latter consists of two large floral sprigs and two smaller ones in between. It has a small, looped handle attached just below the rim. The cup sits on a raised foot rim, which has a rough finish. There are the remains of a hand-painted number within the base.

The saucer is similar to the cup, with a scalloped rim and a moulded scroll and floral motif below. This has once again been hand-decorated with a series of three large and three small floral sprigs, and one small central sprig. There is no retaining rim for the cup.

The underneath of the saucer has a raised rim. Within this is a large circular transfer printed maker’s mark, containing a stylised laurel wreath, within which are the words ‘COALPORT IMPROVED FELTSPAR PORCELAIN’. Around the wreath are the words ‘PATRONISED BY THE SOCIETY OF ARTS THE GOLD MEDAL AWARDED MAY 1820’. Below the circular mark are the words ‘T. ROSE & CO’.

Thomas Rose was the younger brother of John Rose, who had established the original Coalport factory in about 1795. Thomas Rose set up a factory in Coalport independent of his brother at the beginning of the 19th century. The two factories were amalgamated in about 1814 and continued to become the Coalport China Works we know today.

The cup has a height of approximately 6.9cm, with a diameter across the rim of about 8.0cm and across the base of about 4.3cm. The saucer has a diameter across the rim of 14.6cm.

They have an unwrapped weight of 240g.

It is in fair condition for its age, with no chips, although there are two fine cracks to the rim of the saucer and one within the base (see photographs). There is also some minor wear to the moulded and hand-painted patterns. This wear is only noticeable on close inspection but is reflected in the price.