This interesting Liverpool coffee cup or small mug is painted in underglaze blue with the Two Men on an Island pattern. The thinly potted body has a distinctive blue tone, and the translucency is good, although of a greenish straw colour towards the base. The cup gently flares out towards the rim and the unglazed base is slightly spread. Typical of early experimental porcelain there are interesting discrepancies in the glaze, with signs of blurring, bubbling and spit-out.

Whilst this pattern is usually associated with Richard Chaffers, it has been suggested that the extreme blurring of the decoration is reminiscent of some Gilbody wares, and therefore a Samuel Gilbody attribution should not be ruled out.

Provenance: The Susi and Ian Sutherland Collection.

This piece would be of particular interest to any collector of early English problem porcelains.

Condition: Perfect - no chips, cracks or restoration. There is a blob of glaze attached to the base.

Dimensions: Height 2 1/5" (6.3cm)

Liverpool Porcelain of the Eighteenth Century, Bernard M. Watney, Richard Dennis (1997).