English or Oriental

There are no marks to base. Is this English or Oriental please? The porcelain is very shiny and quite translucent at the base, but notlike that Japanese eggshell.

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I don't think they're oriental. Whether they're English or Continental is another matter.

Do you think they look a bit like Sunderland lustre?

mal wrote:Do you think they look a bit like Sunderland lustre?

Can't tell from that photo - are the purple leaves luster?
I would have expected there to be more lustre decoration if they were proper Staffordshire lustre pieces.

The whole thing is VERY shiny - more shiny than the usual glossy china that I see. It's more like the porcelain they make those old fairings with except MUCH thinner.

Yes, but 'shiny porcelain' isn't the same as 'lustre'. Lustre is a specific type of surface enamel decoration - often metallic-pink or metallic-purple in colour.

No I know Naomi I understand that, I was thinking that the decoration is similar in colour to the lustre cups that I've seen.

Fair enough, but as I said before, it's difficult to tell from that photo. Plus one would expect the rims to be done in lustre too, but frm that photo they seem to be simply enamelled in a dark something or other.

Yes the rims are like a dark maroon colour, almost brown. I think they'll have to remain a mystery. Never mind. Thanks Naomi.

Lustre was often applied over transfer printed decoration, where-as this is hand painted floral decoration.

Do you have the saucers?

Put it this way, if I was buying items for someone collecting lustreware, I wouldn't buy these.

No - no saucers I'm afraid. I have LOTS of old cups with no saucers, and even more old saucers with no cups. Thanks again.

mal, did you buy them in Wales? because i'm wondering if they are welsh?

Yes I did!

i'm not an expert on welsh pottery/porcelain, but they reminded me of early Swansea

All the Swansea I've seen is much prettier than these....not that I've seen much of it. I'll have to look into that possibility. Thank you.