Antique cup:18th?

[collector]

This is an unmarked cup.

What´s your guess about age?

Could be handpainted?

Thanks

[IPT]

We need more information I feel. Could we see better photos with a closeup of the flowers, and a photo of the bottom? Is it Chinese? What is the size? You should post this in the Antique/Vintage Teaware thread.

[collector]

measures 5,5 cm diameter and 5.5 high

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/845/cup4.jpg/

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/100/cup3.jpg/

[IPT]

I would need a closer image of the flowers, but to me it looks like it is transferware and not handpainted. I would say it is Chinese, early to mid twentieth century. That type of cup was very popular in China during that period. I have quite a few in my collection. They are similar, but not exactly the same. It is a take on the English handled teacups with a Chinese twist.

[TomVerlain]

The foot of the cup is nothing like a 18th c piece of ceramics. How a piece is made gives clues to it's age, and the foot is a very prominent indicator of the technique. A squared off foot cut from a potter's wheel is what you would see on a 200 year old cup.

[collector]

what´s then your guess regarding age, and if it is ironstone,transfer, hand painted, etc? Thans

[collector]

Sorry, I asked again about your opinions on age, if transfer or not etc as I had not seen some answers on this subject. the ssue is that I have seen through internet a few cups similar to this one, clasified as chinese export 18th.

[brandon]

If you look at the band at the top, it looks like there is an artifact from the transfer overlapping itself at different heights. It is too hard to see in your photo, but this is common in a mass produced piece.

[collector]

If it is transfer, then, we are speaking at least from the early 19th for this piece?

[collector]

I have been looking for images of 20th but I have not been able to find any unmarked one similar to this cup.

[collector]

Here is a closer picture.

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/83 ... cture.jpg/

Regards.

[IPT]

Transferware is still being made in China, and most teaware here is still transferware, so that is not really a signifier for age.

It is not too surprising you cannot find others similar to yours. They were very mass produced, so not rare, and are not really collected due to the availability of so many other, more beautiful cups. The ones I have, I bought from $2.00USD to $5.00USD each. I will dig some out and post photos. They are different from yours, but I have seen a lot very similar to yours. I do not really collect them either, so I do not have too many.

They date to around the 1930's. Handled teacups basically did not exist in China until the Republican Period (1911-1949). China really had no contact with the western world before that time. It was not until the fall of the Qing Dynasty that it started to get exposure. It was during this time that handled teacups started to really appear. Ones like yours, were crude copies of the Western style, with a Chinese twist.

There are some exceptions. During the mid-Qing Dynasty there are a few examples of handled-teacups, particularly during the reign of Emperor Qianlong. He received tributes from Western countries and would then have Chinese versions made, but they generally were only found in the palace and their quality was exceptional.

[Chip]

It would be great if you would post images instead of links to images. As it is, each reader must click on your link to view ... which many readers will not do. Since you are asking for assistance, make it easier.

I realize this may require you to resize ...

Thanks,
Chip
Immoderate TeaDrinker who happens to Moderate

[In search of truth]

Transfer printing on Pottery first started in England circa 1755.

Later in 1770's it was developed by Sadler & Green in Liverpool on Delft tiles and also on Wedgwood creamware.

Chinese export Porcelain of the 18th c is always hand painted and rarely marked.

Your piece is not of a great age although the handle is interesting,if impractical.

[TIM]

Transferware is still being made in China, and most teaware here is still transferware, so that is not really a signifier for age.

It is not too surprising you cannot find others similar to yours. They were very mass produced, so not rare, and are not really collected due to the availability of so many other, more beautiful cups. The ones I have, I bought from $2.00USD to $5.00USD each. I will dig some out and post photos. They are different from yours, but I have seen a lot very similar to yours. I do not really collect them either, so I do not have too many.

They date to around the 1930's. Handled teacups basically did not exist in China until the Republican Period (1911-1949). China really had no contact with the western world before that time. It was not until the fall of the Qing Dynasty that it started to get exposure. It was during this time that handled teacups started to really appear. Ones like yours, were crude copies of the Western style, with a Chinese twist.

There are some exceptions. During the mid-Qing Dynasty there are a few examples of handled-teacups, particularly during the reign of Emperor Qianlong. He received tributes from Western countries and would then have Chinese versions made, but they generally were only found in the palace and their quality was exceptional.

They also made them all over Asia. Japanese did had a lot of transfers export. A couple of Meiji's transfers export: