Last weekend I was traveling back from Southeast Asia and didn’t get the chance to wish you all a Happy New Year. The image on this charming cup seems to be an appropriate way to welcome 2019, so Happy New Year…one week later!
This porcelain Bute shape cup has hand painted decoration en grisaille (shades of gray) of a young boy tooting a horn. It has gilt bands around the rim and base. Cup measures 2.25 inches high, with an opening diameter of 3 inches.
Much like a 1980s mullet – though a lot more attractive – this cup is business in front, party in the back. The bronze handle, which replaced the original broken one over 100 years ago, is unseen from the front but clearly visible from the side and back. The underside has a cobalt blue mark, suggesting the cup is Continental or English. If anyone knows for sure, please let me know.
Tags: Continental, metal handle, porcelain
It almost is trying to look like a ‘Meissen’ mark, therefore I would think it is likely as you say continental and like many porcelain houses they would do things like this even though the quality is there. That is what I think, don’t know if I am correct or not! lol
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Amy. More research to do!
I have two similarly decorated pieces which are ascribed to the Paris factory of Dihl & Guerhard. (1781-1828) My coffee pot bears the same mark as your cup.