SOLD – Lidded Chocolate Cup c1785

Description

A rare Regency glass lidded chocolate cup or custard cup c1785 with its original gilded mushroom knop lid with diamond cutting. The bowl is similarly cut and gilded with an applied and cut handle.

Lead glass. no chips cracks or restoration. It has some minor loss of gilt and overall it’s in superb clean condition.  

Chocolate cups are very popular and porcelain examples from the 18th and early 19th century are highly sought after. This is the very first glass example we have had and the fact that it still has its original lid. chip free. is a real bonus. We had to consult with a celebrity expert who advises that this is most probably French or north european. not German or Bohemian.

French and other foreign fashiosn in the facon d’Angleterre followed developments with an inevitable degree of delay. You can usually date French Angleterre cristal glass about 10-15. even 20 years after they first appeared in England

We have also consulted one of our Belgian collectors who is most knowledegabe on such matters. He agrees with the aforementioned and adds that it is unlikely to be Zoude who stopped producing lead glass around 1778-9 and that cutting equipment was not purchased until a little later. Covered cups are however in his “pattern book” if it is credible.  Vonêche started cutting in 1779. and one of the three attributed examples is cut and gilded. another one just guilded. but they did not use lead glass until d’Artigues arrived in 1802. Saint-Louis-lès-Bitche is a likely candidate as they started to use lead glas in 1781.
 

Measures 5 ½ inches tall with 3 ½ inch bowl.