Antique English Imari Cup & Saucer

This shimmering Antique English Imari Cup & Saucer promises to become timeless and cherished heirloom, sure to elevate every sip with its elegant beauty and impeccable style.

Imari designs, named for the Japanese port from which they were shipped to the West in the 17th century, are instantly recognizable for their lavish use of cobalt blue, iron red, and gleaming gold. Originating in the kilns of Arita, these porcelain wares combined bold floral motifs, scrolling foliage, and sometimes mythical creatures in intricate, almost textile-like patterns. Their striking palettes and exuberant decoration captivated European collectors, influencing makers from Meissen to Worcester, who created their own interpretations.

While lacking a maker's mark (common in china of this age), it appears that this china was made by Mason's China, a renowned firm in Staffordshire with a long history, originally founded by Miles Mason. Mason began his career as a London chinaman (porcelain dealer) who sold imported Chinese and Japanese wares. When imports declined at the end of the 18th century, Mason began producing and selling his own ceramics, eventually moving into manufacturing in Staffordshire.

In 1813, Charles James Mason, Miles’s son, patented a new kind of durable ware called “Patent Ironstone China.” This ceramic was formulated to resemble porcelain but was stronger and more affordable—perfect for the expanding middle-class market in Britain and abroad. It became highly successful and helped establish Mason’s reputation in the early 19th century.

Mason’s ironstone was celebrated for its resilience and richly decorated surfaces. Using transfer printing (a technique where engraved copper plates transferred designs onto clay before firing), the firm produced a wide range of patterns inspired by Asian art—especially those in the Imari/Japan style prized in Europe. After financial difficulties in the mid-1800s, many of Mason’s original pattern plates passed to Francis Morley, and then to George L. Ashworth & Sons, who continued producing Mason patterns (often still bearing the Mason name) for years afterward. The company and its designs lived on through various ownerships, eventually becoming part of the Wedgwood Group before original production ceased in the late 20th century.

Strictly one-of-a-kind and subject to prior sale. At time of listing 4 cups & saucers available; price is per cup and saucer. Cup: 5"D x 2.5"H. Saucer: 6"D x 2"H. In very good antique condition.