Standing just three inches high, this exquisite and finely potted little cup is of a form that is usually referred to as a capuchine and would have been used for coffee. The quality and delicacy of the piece suggest that it was intended for private use. It is decorated in blue and red with a songbird sitting on a branch with flowers and foliage. Illustrated examples include one that was in the Longridge Collection at Christies in 2010 (estimate £4000-6000), another is illustrated in the Williamsburg Collection of British Delft and a third is illustrated in one of Jonathan Horne's catalogues in 2006. My example is of more tapered and elegant form than these other examples and dates to about 1695 to 1705. It is almost certainly a London piece. It is in excellent condition with no restoration. Three inches high with a diameter of 2 3/4 inches on the rim and 1 1/2 inches on the foot rim.

Ref: 10826

Price: POA