Description
A dragon and phoenix wind through the coloured decoration of this small Phoenix Ware cup. Green, red, yellow and black details contrast with the white ground, while gilt outlines draw attention to lotus flowers, the rim and the handle. The imagery gives a Staffordshire-made piece an East Asian-inspired decorative character suited to a display of tea and coffee table pieces.
The identification records a printed T. F. & S. Ltd, Made in England, Phoenix mark beneath the cup. This identifies Thomas Forester & Sons Ltd and its Phoenix trade name, rather than a separate maker called Phoenix. The Longton firm's decorative ceramics drew on varied ornamental traditions, and the dragon and phoenix here belong to that broader pattern of inspiration. The mark form suggests twentieth-century manufacture. The existing listing grades the cup Excellent and reports no chips or cracks. For more context on the decoration and identification, see the Journal guide to collecting vintage ceramics.
- Maker: Thomas Forester & Sons Ltd, England, under the Phoenix name.
- Dimensions: Cup 6 cm high and 7.5 cm wide, as listed.
- Condition: Listed as Excellent; No chips or cracks reported.
- Features: Dragon, phoenix, lotus flowers, multicolour decoration and gilt outlines.
- Period: Twentieth century by recorded mark form
- SKU: SKU-00557.
A vivid cup for collectors of Phoenix Ware, Staffordshire ceramics or dragon-and-phoenix imagery.