The so-called Girl in a Swing factory (1749-c.1759) is perhaps best known for 'toys', figures and bird models (made in a porcelain with a particularly high lead content) and these far outnumber surviving tablewares.
This simple cup in the Chelsea style, decorated only with three enamel floral sprays and chipped to the footrim, was deemed exceptionally rare and a great find for a dealer who had bought it recently for just £15 in a boxed lot at a Nottingham saleroom.
At the Derby sale it was competed by several specialist dealers before selling to a member of the London trade at a wholly unexpected £7800.
Dealer’s eye brings profit with £7800 cup
It was catalogued as Bow c.1760 but this English porcelain coffee cup seen at Bamfords of Derby on July 25 was identified as belonging to a much rarer class of porcelain associated with Charles Gouyn and a short-lived London concern in St James’s.