Tuscan | C8939 | pastel blue bird-flower motif, gold detail | English demitasse duo

This is Tuscan Fine English Bone China, produced by the factory which was later taken over by Wedgwood in 1967. They held the patent for a strong porcelain called metallized hotel china - so called because it was tough enough to be used as hotelware (which involved of course a great deal of handling) and still resist chipping or cracking (which might explain the perfect condition of this cup). It's vintage, though not antique, as it was produced after 1947 which is when the wording Bone China was added to the stamp at the bottom.

Still at about 70 years old, it seems extremely fresh.As a point of interest, you can see the anglified oriental pattern quite clearly on this model. Since the Victorian times (ie. when china actually came from China), many patterns designed in England have mimicked Chinese or Japanese designs. This pattern has an criss cross "bamboo style" motif in sections around the rim, as well as being in sections like Imariware.Birds were also a common motif on Oriental porcelain, and much less so on purely English patterns (having studied this for a long time, I've concluded that English china has a propensity to uses roses and country scenes! - see my masons listings if you arent convinced :)...however the birds have been anglicised - they're grouse; game birds which are exclusively found in the british isles :)

Tuscan china is highly collectible & celebrated for its ability to hold/retain pastel colours without fade. So although the blue is extremely pale, that is its original colour. The gilt is slightly worn commensurate with age, but otherwise there is no chips, no cracks nor even any crazing. Superb.

I also have a listing for the matching side plate (you can buy it separately, or in a bundle with this one).