Liverpool Porcelain Philip Christian Blue and White Tea Bowl & Saucer ca 1770

A Philip Christian, Liverpool porcelain, blue and white transfer printed tea bowl and saucer dating from the late 18th century. Both the bowl and the saucer are decorated with the "Rural Lovers" pattern, which consists of a European landscape scene of a man with his spaniel dog and woman with two milk pails. The man appears to be courting the young woman whilst they are standing beneath an old tree. There are two cows nearby which the woman with the pails, we assume, has come to milk.

Philip Christian took over the Shaw's Brow factory from the family of his late previous business partner Richard Chaffers. Christian operated the factory from 1766 - 1778. The Shaw's Brow factory (now William Brown Street) of Liverpool, then Lancashire, England. This teabowl and saucer date from around 1770 - 1778. 

These porcelain items are made from steatitic porcelain containing soaprock from Cornwall and are unmarked. For a similar saucer see item 282 on page 151 of British Blue and White Porcelain Saucers 1745-95 by Steven Goss.

They are in fair antique condition. The teabowl has been broken and two large pieces re-glued, a small associated chip has been filled and disguised. Saucer has a hairline to the rim and a tiny disguised chip to the rim. Please see the images.

This is a great item for any collector of English 18th century tea bowls and saucers, blue and white transfer printed ware or 18th century Liverpool porcelain.

Tea bowl height 1 3/4 inches ( 4.4 cm)
Tea bowl diameter 3 1/4 inches ( 8.2 cm)
Saucer height 13/16 inches ( 2.1 cm)
Saucer diameter 4 1/2 inches ( 12.7 cm)
Total weight 115 grammes unpacked.