Coffee cup, Bristol, hard paste porcelain, c.1775

This coffee cup is attractively painted with colourful European flowers, including a large pink rose bouquet in the manner of Meissen.

The base is marked with a blue-grey cross and '1.' in red.

The characteristic spiral wreathing of Bristol can clearly be seen in the potting.

Bristol had inherited porcelain-making in 1770 after Cookworthy moved from Plymouth. Richard Champion's factory lasted from 1773 until 1781, when enormous losses forced him to sell his patent to a group of Staffordshire potters, later to become New Hall.

Condition: No cracks or restoration, just a minute nick to the inside rim and a tiny amount of wear to the chocolate enamel line.

Dimensions: Height 2 1/2" (6.4cm)

As Bristol porcelain is relatively scarce and highly collectable, this coffee cup would grace any collection of early English 'true' or hard paste porcelain.