Pattern 714 Spode bone china Bute shape Tea Cup & Saucer hand decorated with a simple iron-red enamel & gilt border design which appears on Oriental Export porcelain during the 18th century.
Josiah Spode II introduced this Kakiemon influenced design c1804 but he had already used this previously on his popular pattern 282 c1801. The central motif looks like a gilt Garter Star from the Order of the Garter. Is Josiah trying to catch the attention of the British royalty? I suspect he was.
Both the bute shape tea cup & the saucer are showing signs of wear
Once the tea has been consumed it's a nice touch to find that the bottom of the cup is also decorated.
No pattern number or worker's marks on its base as usual
This pattern 714 Spode New Oval shape bone china Creamer is in much better condition. This shape was introduced c1805 at Spode.
The gilder has made a very good job of the handle decoration
And it has its pattern number '714' in red enamel plus a decorator's mark. Although the pattern on this Spode creamer was introduced c1804, the shape was introduced c1805 & the red enamel mark would date it to around 1806-1810 (once the company started to mark their wares more & once gilt marking was ruled out due to the extra costs involved).