Very Rare Swansea Porcelain Parakeets In A Tree Pattern Egg Cup c1815

Description

Heading : Swansea Porcelain ‘Parakeets In A Tree’ Pattern Egg Cup
Date : c1815
Period : George III
Marks : None
Origin : Swansea; Wales
Colour : Printed polychrome image of two parakeets. both chained to a blossom-bearing branch; the chains are gilded. and there is gilt decoration around the edge of the foot and the inside and extreme top edge of the rim.
Condition : Excellent; no chips. cracks or flakes; gilding is bright with no loss; polychrome also bright with no scratches; very light kiln-spit to the outer surface
Restoration : None
Dimensions : 4.7 cm high – 5.0 cm diameter to rim. 3.5 cm to base
Weight : 34 grams

Note : The two birds are elements of the ‘parakeets in a tree’ pattern. which was used on tea cups. coffee cans. oval serving dishes and ‘side plates’. Given the date attributed to what was evidently a tea service. we are beholden to imagine that officers of the 23rd Regiment of Foot; Royal Welch Fusiliers would have celebrated their success at Waterloo taking appropriate refreshment from such an ensemble after the battle (they made up some of the much vaunted ‘squares’ which were to thwart Beugnat’s 2e Régiment de Carabiniers in their repeated and ultimately futile cavalry charges throughout the day)

References: Swansea Porcelain Shapes and Decoration (Jones & Joseph; 1988) page 193