18th Century First Period Worcester Three Flowers Pattern Tea Bowl & Saucer, c.1775

An 18th century Worcester porcelain tea bowl and saucer printed in underglaze blue in the three flowers pattern. Both are marked to the base with the blue crescent. Circa 1775.

The cup and saucer are in fine condition with no chips, cracks or repairs.

In 1752, a consortium of wealth merchants led by Dr John Wall made a successful takeover bid for the Bristol porcelain works and transferred production to Worcester. The recipe for porcelain they inherited included 30% soapstone. This proved to be extremely workable and reliable and from the start, Worcester porcelain gained a reputation for quality in body, glaze, workmanship and decoration. Shortly after, Robert Hancock arrived at Worcester, the first man to apply transfer prints to porcelain. Around 1770, the Worcester Porcelain Company made its first royal dinner service for the Duke of Gloucester and by 1789 it had earned a Royal Warrant as Manufacturers to their Majesties, allowing it to add ‘Royal‘ to its name.