{HISTORY}

Hailing from 19th-century Limoges, France, these two porcelain cups and saucers represent all the elegance of classic French style. They also happen to tell quite a few stories between them.

Matching in color palette yet each beautifully and distinctly detailed, this curated set was made by three different French porcelain potteries... Haviland, Gerard, Duffraisseix & Morel, and William Guerin, in France between the 1880s and the 1930s. 

Synonymous with fine quality porcelain, the Havilands were Limoges' most famous family, representing a manufacturing dynasty of exquisite craftsmanship since 1842. Lineage of their family dynamics, dish designs, and dramas can be found on the unique backstamps that represent remarkable changes as the brand evolved over three centuries. Both cups and one saucer in this set were made and/or designed by Haviland, but during different years and different eras of management. 

The cup and saucer with the matching gold fringe-style design around the rim was made by Gerard, Dufraisseix & Morel, around 1882, just after they took over the Charles Field Haviland pottery and their designs upon Charles' retirement in 1881. Also referred to as GDM, Gerard, Duffraisseix & Morel brought innovation and expansion to the Haviland brand while also emulating the superior craftsmanship, pattern design, and exquisite style that the Haviland brand has always represented. 

A few decades later, during the Haviland and Co. era,  the other cup with the thin gold stripes around the rim and the fleur de lis style embossed detailing on the handle was made by Haviland between 1895-1931.

The second saucer with the thick gold band and scalloped shape was made by William Guerin in Limoges between 1900-1920 and exported to the retail shop of the Ovington Bros in Brooklyn, New York. Like the Haviland brand, William Guerin was a family-run porcelain pottery, first started in the 1830s and operated by several generations of the before it closed permanently in 1932. 

Brothers Theodore and Edward Ovington opened Ovington Bros China and Glass in Brooklyn, NY in 1843. Their retail shop would eventually evolve into a successful six-story department store in Brooklyn's bustling Flatbush Avenue business district with additional retail space on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. Like Guerin and Haviland, the Ovington Bros retail business was also run by generations of Theodore and Edward's family well into the 1900s.  Not only known for their business enterprises, generations of the Ovington family were also well-known community activists and supporters of the equal rights movement of the early 1900s. 

So as you can see, this collection contains two porcelain cups and saucers, but also centuries of family history wrapped up in both in France and America. It's fun to think about the conversations that may have swirled around these two in French and English as they made their way from Limoges to New England during the 18th and 19th centuries. 

Visually stunning from all angles, we especially love the detailing on the saucers, with their embossed stripes and subtly patterned edges. 

{SPECIAL FEATURES}

• Mismatched collection of two porcelain cups and saucers
• Each piece is stamped with maker's mark
  
• Gold and white color palette

{CONDITION}

In gorgeous antique condition, these cups and saucers contain no chips, cracks, spots, or stains. The cup with the fringe-style rim contains a bit of wear in some areas around the inner gold stripe at the rim. Please see photos.

{SIZE}

The fringe cup measures 3.25" inches in diameter. The double-stripe measures 3.5 "inches in diameter. Both saucers measure 5.5" inches in diameter. Altogether, this collection weighs just under 1 lb.

{STYLE IDEA}

This set looks beautiful with this antique gold and white mismatched tea service set