Antique Staffordshire Mug: Hand-Painted Chinoiserie Tea Scene, c. 1810
£275.00
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Antique Staffordshire Pottery Mug with Chinoiserie Design, Early 19th Century, c. 1810
An antique Staffordshire pottery mug featuring hand-painted Chinoiserie decoration, likely dating to the early 19th century. The central motif depicts an interior Chinese-style scene of ladies and gentlemen seated at a table, taking tea. This design is complemented by Greek-style motifs on the handle and inner rim, with a yellow painted band encircling the outer rim.
The mug reflects early stencil printing technology, with several visible factory anomalies that provide insight into early ceramic techniques. Notably, the pink paint appears to have been applied last and has shifted slightly from the stencil in places. One side of the mug shows a partial misprint of a servant offering tea, with the master's face missing from the transfer. The reverse shows a similar visual stripe between the servant and the master.
These quirks suggest the mug was produced at a time when stencil printing was newly adopted. Although transfer printing was developed in 1751 and spread widely in the early 1800s, this piece likely represents one of the earlier uses of stencil-based decoration, coupled with the popular Chinoiserie style, which was fashionable during this transitional period.
Historical Background
Staffordshire potteries led innovation in both decorative technique and form during the 18th and 19th centuries. The rise of transfer and stencil printing revolutionised the decoration of ceramics, allowing for more detailed imagery to be reproduced consistently. Chinoiserie, a European decorative interpretation of Chinese design, became particularly popular in Britain during this period, with pottery forms frequently featuring romanticised Eastern scenes.
This mug serves as a rare and tangible example of both evolving ceramic technology and cross-cultural decorative trends in early 19th-century England.
Measurements
Height: 8.7 cm
Upper Diameter: 8.8 cm
Lower Diameter: 8.4 cm
Width (including handle): 11.8 cm
Weight: 244 g
Condition
Very good antique condition overall, no sign of restoration or structural damage. Minor chip to the base, small enamel chip beneath the handle, and a fleabite on the upper rim. Several dots within the painted motif, which are not cracks but rather areas where paint shifted during manufacture. Please study all photos carefully for a complete view of the condition.
Shipping & Packaging
Item will be sent fully tracked and insured.
Shipping cost includes labour, packaging, and postage.
Antique Staffordshire Mug: Hand-Painted Chinoiserie Tea Scene, c. 1810
£275.00
An antique Staffordshire pottery mug featuring hand-painted Chinoiserie decoration, likely dating to the early 19th century. The central motif depicts an interior Chinese-style scene of ladies and gentlemen seated at a table, taking tea. This design is complemented by Greek-style motifs on the handle and inner rim, with a yellow painted band encircling the outer rim.
The mug reflects early stencil printing technology, with several visible factory anomalies that provide insight into early ceramic techniques. Notably, the pink paint appears to have been applied last and has shifted slightly from the stencil in places. One side of the mug shows a partial misprint of a servant offering tea, with the master's face missing from the transfer. The reverse shows a similar visual stripe between the servant and the master.
These quirks suggest the mug was produced at a time when stencil printing was newly adopted. Although transfer printing was developed in 1751 and spread widely in the early 1800s, this piece likely represents one of the earlier uses of stencil-based decoration, coupled with the popular Chinoiserie style, which was fashionable during this transitional period.
Historical Background
Staffordshire potteries led innovation in both decorative technique and form during the 18th and 19th centuries. The rise of transfer and stencil printing revolutionised the decoration of ceramics, allowing for more detailed imagery to be reproduced consistently. Chinoiserie, a European decorative interpretation of Chinese design, became particularly popular in Britain during this period, with pottery forms frequently featuring romanticised Eastern scenes.
This mug serves as a rare and tangible example of both evolving ceramic technology and cross-cultural decorative trends in early 19th-century England.
Measurements
Height: 8.7 cm
Upper Diameter: 8.8 cm
Lower Diameter: 8.4 cm
Width (including handle): 11.8 cm
Weight: 244 g
Condition
Very good antique condition overall, no sign of restoration or structural damage. Minor chip to the base, small enamel chip beneath the handle, and a fleabite on the upper rim. Several dots within the painted motif, which are not cracks but rather areas where paint shifted during manufacture. Please study all photos carefully for a complete view of the condition.
Shipping & Packaging
Item will be sent fully tracked and insured.
Shipping cost includes labour, packaging, and postage.