A Bristol hard paste porcelain Coffee Cup, Richard Champion, circa 1775
This coffee cup is painted in underglaze blue with three floral sprays, and a trellis border to the inside.
The base is marked with a blue cross in underglaze blue.
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 damage or restoration, just a tiny scorch mark from firing.
Dimensions: Height 6 cm
As Bristol porcelain is relatively scarce and highly collectable, this coffee cup would grace any collection of early English ‘true’ or hard paste porcelain.