Meissen porcelain teacup
European plum sized porcelain teacup, patterned after Asian designs. Blue under glaze painting and over glaze enamels. Makers mark at base, crossed swords design
Came from a family owned antique store that closed in England in the 1940s. Was given to my mother (b1936) as a teen, she was told to hold on to this
Inherited
Maybe
Good evening, Tanya,
Thank you for submitting photographs to Mearto for appraisal.
I can't make out the underglaze blue maker's mark but based on the rest of the information and photographs provided, this is a:
Meissen porcelain tea bowl, late 18th century
exterior glaze in poor condition, lacking saucer.
$ 100-150
If you can provide a clearer photograph of the mark I can see if I can identify the name of the specific maker but it is in such condition I am not sure that would necessarily improve the value.
Please let us know if you have additional items to appraise, and thank you for using Mearto.
I should dig out the newspaper article that was written about it, it was an Antiques Roadshow type thing, so I dont know who the original appraiser was, but she was the 'hidden gem' feature f that show, made the local paper, and was urged to contact a few museums in Toronto as we are a few hours distance from there.
This would, I think, only have that much value if it were in fact truly rare and made by a maker where the condition does not diminish the value.
If it really were valuable, I would strongly suspect the owner would have tried to buy it back, or at least sell it on your / mother's behalf. Particularly if they themselves had owned it originally. When people say "this has value but you should keep this," they either mean the item doesn't have as much value as it once did, has sentimental value ONLY and/or may simply not know what they have and don't want to be liable for overpaying or underselling. Does that make sense?
As I mentioned, if you can get a clear photograph of the small mark on the bottom - adjacent to the crossed swords mark - I can dig into my research books to see if I can find the maker.
Absolutely understood, it was her Uncle that gave it to her, she actually never thought it Was worth much... she was actually shocked when the roadshow appraiser was so excited.. just interesting to have 2 Very different values from 2 professionals.. the first could very well have seen something that wasn't there, but was particularly keen on the crossed swords as he called the makers mark. It obviously would be nice if the first appraiser was right, but if he wasnt I would be curious as to what he thought he saw
The Meissen (also OK to think of as a factory mark but it was all handwork so not at all mass produced) mark is the inverted 'L' marks; the small mark just beyond where they come together in a W should be the maker's mark.
Ok I uploaded another photo, I think the mark is faint near the other side across from painted mark. Thanks for looking
Yes, it's a little clearer in the photograph. I'll have a look and let you know, though probably won't be until this evening.
Hi Tanya,
I’ve looked and its just the Augustus Rex AR mark which was on Meissen after the early 18th century. It doesnt identify the specific maker of this cup or change my valuation.
Ok, thanks for your extra time on this!
Well that's interesting, as my mother had it looked at previously and the curator said Do you have any idea what you have here.. and suggested he couldn't begin to put an estimate on it... guessed maybe 10K as a ballpark. I would like to know how 2 appraisals could be so far apart. The owner of the original shop told my mother to keep this, it is valuable. Hmmm