Description:
Coffee cup and saucer are commemoratives of England's alliance with Frederick the Great - the King of Prussia - during the Seven Years War (1756-1763). As a result of his victories, Frederick II enjoyed popularity both in Britain and America. On September 8, 1756, the secretary of state, Lord Holdernesse wrote to Andrew Mitchell, the British ambassador in Prussia, observing “Our constant toast here now is, success to the King of Prussia: he grows vastly popular among us…” These slogans, wishing success to the King of Prussia, could also be found on ceramic wares and were distributed in England and exported to her North American colonies. The image of the King of Prussia is based on a 1736 full length portrait of him painted by Antoine Pesne (Royal Collection Trust), and later engraved by Richard Houston. The cup and saucer are transfer printed [on glaze, bat printed] in black enamel, with image of King of Prussia engraved by Robert Hancock. Printed in black on one side of the cup and in the center of the saucer with a half-length portrait titled KING of PRUSSIA, the saucer’s portrait also dated 1757 and with Cupid holding a wreath and flying above, the reverse of the cup with an assemblage of martial trophies, the side affixed with a ‘wishbone’ handle, and each with a black line around the interior rim edge.Coffee cup: Bellied cup with tapering base and flaring lip, pointed "7" shape attached handle, transfer printed with decoration of battle trophies including banners, flags, canon, drum, pikes, and trumpets; on the opposite side is a bust image of the King of Prussia based on the painted by x, the King is dressed in armor and ermine and is pointing to the trophies, below the image is the inscription, "KING OF PRUSSIA", on the base of the cup is a paper label " Reculvers", condition: small hairline crack along the lower side of the cup, some black specks to the lead glaze; saucer: round saucer with sloping sides and turned footrim, the surface is transfer printed with a bust image of the King of Prussia who is being crowned by a putti with a laurel wreath; the King is dressed in armor and an ermine robe, he is pointing to the left; below the image is the inscription, "1757/KING OF PRUSSIA", on the underside are several attached paper labels for Phillips auction, "Phillips/309/Sale no. 2/137" "Reculvers" 105", "12-PH-93-1/ Worcester C+saucer/King of Prussia" "6", and "Ph. Worc./Kg. Prussia." Condition: good condition, few black specks to the glaze. The shape of this cup is rare. This cup can be compared to the delftware mug HD 2018.4. Although this transfer-print is not uncommon, and is found generally on cylindrical or baluster-shaped mugs, no other example of this print appears to be recorded on a cup of this shape. In fact, Worcester ‘King of Prussia’ cups and saucers of any shape are relatively rare.Condition: Good, but the black rim lines with slight wear.
Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=HD+2018.21 |
