Spode Pearlware (pottery with a bluish glaze) Bute shape Tea Cup & Saucer decorated with the transfer print P811 known as 'Gloucester' together with a simple blue & gilt border around its rims. This pattern was produced in the last decade of the 18th century, the early years of the 19th century & again during the 20th century.
There are several engravings of this pattern in the Spode copper plate store that are very early in style & this particular cup & saucer would date to c1800. There is a pearlware Custard Cup illustrated in Robert Copeland's book, 'Spode's Willow Pattern & other designs after the Chinese' (1990 edition) on page 148 described as, 'printed in Cyanine, diagonal mark in blue, also a small ring turned in the base, Gloucester pattern, attributed to Spode c.1800'.
This Spode cup has a very distinctive kink to its handle which is very often seen on their cups c1800. Robert Copeland also mentions in his book that an enamelled version of this pattern with gilded sprays alternating with the printed blue ones is recorded as pattern number 1866 c1811. The pattern was reintroduced about 1929 and it was at this point that it was actually named as the Gloucester pattern. It is not known whether this design had a name prior to this date.
This early Spode Tea Cup has just a simple gilt line running down its kinked handle rather than the usual Spode gilding pattern. There is a fine hairline crack to the right of the handle but otherwise it is excellent.
It is in remarkably good condition considering its age.
On the base is a blue decorator's mark, a small ring turned into its base, as mentioned by Robert Copeland & the remains of someone's collection marking system - perhaps these were part of the Copeland Collection? Spode 'Gloucester' pieces from c1800 are very rare. Leonard Whiter mentions in his book 'Spode' of 1978 (2nd edition) that a compote was the only Spode piece he knew of in this pattern. Several pieces have turned up since however.
Moorabool Antiques in Australia have an early Spode 'Gloucester' serving dish in the Devonia shape which has been in Geoffrey Fisk's Collection, George Worlock's Collection & the Howell Collection. My pattern 1185 Spode dish which was part of the Copeland Collection also came from the Howell Collection via Moorabool Antiques. Here is a link to the 'Gloucester' serving dish https://moorabool.com/product/spode-oval-fluted-serving-dish-blue-and-white-flower-sprig-printed-c-1800/