Antique ABJ Grafton Orange Floral Coffee Cups circa 1900-1913 England - Set of Two
Bring me the sunset in a cup. Emily Dickinson
{HISTORY}
Made by the pottery AB Jones & Sons, trading under the name Royal Grafton, this pair of gorgeous antique coffee cups was made between 1900 and 1913 in Longton, England. Containing a rich tapestry of rusty oranges, lime green and inky black, this very pretty pair brings a wealth of elegance to coffee time. Accompanied by small plates, these two are missing their original saucers but the plates more than make up for it as they nicely accommodate both the cup and a petite snack, say a cookie or a tea sandwich, or two.
Exceptionally well cared for, this set with its wavy edges, handpainted details and touches of gold is so pretty for the holiday season. An interior design on each cup adds visual interest from all angles ensuring that their presence at the table will add a touch of history and decadence to your affair.
Let's imagine for a minute all the history that these cups have seen, from the time they were made until now. Titanic, World War I, the rise of the automobile - of the telephone - of the railroad - of the airplane - of the race to the moon and the exploration of the sea, the Spanish Influenza, the right to vote, the Great Depression, Prohibition, WWII, the coronation and then the entire reign of Queen Elizabeth, the Cold War, the Vietnam War, the Civil Rights movement, the rise of the computer, the rise of women and equal rights and fair treatment for all, the Covid pandemic.... needless to say a lot (A LOT!) has happened since those leaves were painted on these cups.
It's fun to think of this timeline in historical format, since many a situation would have been discussed over coffee, between friends, decade after decade. Around here, we bet that if these cups could talk, they'd tell us a lot more than any history book ever could.
{SPECIAL FEATURES}
- Matching set of two
- Contains four pieces: two coffee cups and two small plates
- Colors include rust, terracotta, lime green, black and gold
- Hard to find pattern
{CONDITION}
In gorgeous antique condition. There are no chips, cracks or crazing except for a tiny chip (less than 1/8th inch) on the pedestal ring and one tiny surface chip right above it on the bottom of one coffee cup. Both of these chips are weathered meaning that they occurred a long time ago and they do affect the udse of the cup in any way n to affect its structural integrity. Please see detailed photo. On all pieces, the hand-painting and the pattern designs are crisp and bright. Three of the four pieces are stamped with the maker's mark and all pieces contain an additional handpainted decorator's mark.
{SIZE}
Each coffee cup measures 2.75" inches (height) x 3.5" inches (diameter) and each plate measures 7" inches (diameter). Together, this set weighs 1.11 lbs