Date: circa 1825
Period: Late Regency
Maker: Charles Bourne
Charles Bourne porcelains are renowned for their high standard of decoration.
The eye is first drawn to the tea and coffee trio by the bright summer flowers, each hand-painted in enamels, but what is most distinctive is the fineness of the gilding. Look closely between the cartouches and you will find exquisite gilt patterns of anthemion, acanthus and vine. Decorating inside the cups requires even more skill yet equals the quality seen on the shared saucer.
The bottom of the saucer is marked 675 underneath CB. Charles Bourne had a unique way of marking most of his wares, with the pattern number expressed in fractional form beneath his initials.
Condition Almost perfect. Two-thirds down the outside of the coffee cup there is an old 2cm horizontal hairline but it does not extend to the inside decoration. Therefore, it was not caused by impact, and probably occurred during firing.
Teacup height 6.5 cm; rim diameter 8.8 cm; width including handle 10.4 cm
Coffee cup height 6.9 cm; rim diameter 7.3 cm; width, including handle 9 cm
Saucer diameter 14.2 cm
Weight: 289 g
Medium: Bone china (porcelain)
Origin: Stoke-on-Trent, England
See Charles Bourne in Makers & Artists for background on the factory.
