Antique c1785 Early Derby Bone China Gold Blue Coffee + Tea Cup & Saucer Trio

  

Antique c1785 Early Derby Bone China Coffee Cup, Tea Cup & Saucer Trio - Barbeaux Sprigs Pattern (Gold & Blue Floral Cornflower Design). A rare and finely crafted English bone china trio attributed to Derby, dating to circa 1785.

This elegant set includes a tea cup, coffee cup, and matching saucer, each finely potted and richly decorated with hand-applied gilding and enamel. The "Barbeaux Sprigs" pattern, named for the French word for cornflower, features scattered blue cornflowers and wild blooms-symbols of purity and refinement-reflecting the influence of French taste on English ceramics of the period.

This true trio-comprising both a coffee and a tea cup with one saucer-mirrors 18th-century practice when only one drink was served at a time, eliminating the need for duplicate saucers. This arrangement offered versatility within a matched set and was common among refined Georgian households. Each piece has a spiral-fluted body with acanthus leaf mouldings rising from the base. The upper sections are trimmed with gilded bands from which delicate fronds extend, ending in blue and pink cornflowers. Three gold-accented floral sprays decorate the lower half, with a fourth painted at the base of each cup.

The rims are finished with gilt dentil borders, and the tea cup handle is detailed with gilded bows. The saucer mirrors the cup designs for perfect balance.

Each base bears a hand-painted puce mark typical of Derby porcelain. The form closely resembles pieces featured in Michael Berthoud's. Including Chelsea-Derby examples, confirming its c. 1785 origin and transitional style. A beautiful and refined trio from the Georgian porcelain era-decorative, tactile, and highly collectable.

Size: Tea Cup W c. 9.5cm, Coffee Cup W 8.5cm, Saucer 1.5cm diameter.