coffee cup

Summary

Heavily thrown, deep cylindrical coffee cup with everted rim and curved base on straight footring. Applied press-moulded flattened handle with small thumb rest at upper terminal, inner and outer spurs at lower terminal, and relief-moulded flowers down each flat side. Stamped applied relief decoration to body of three sprays of prunus blossom. Off-white body containing small iron brown specks.

Display Label

The Thomas Greg Collection The Greg Collection of English Pottery was given to the Gallery in 1904 by collector and amateur historian Thomas Greg. One of the great collections of English pottery, it was formed at a time when little was known about the history of ceramics in this country. Over forty years Greg systematically acquired some of the best examples of the potter's art, tracing its development over a thousand years. His collection tells the story of English pottery: of experiment and invention, triumph and downfall, from the unknown medieval craftsman to the world domination of Josiah Wedgwood. In many ways, it is a history of England itself. Greg was driven by a fascination with the past and a desire to contribute to scholarly knowledge. He gave his collection to the Gallery in the hope of inspiring a similar sense of wonder in others.