Saucer 1876 - 1896

This small Coalport saucer, made in England sometime between 1794 and 1926, offers a glimpse into the world of 19th-century British ceramics and the burgeoning middle class. Coalport, like Wedgwood, rose to prominence by producing high-quality, mass-produced tableware. The rich cobalt blue ground, the intricate gilded details, and the stylized floral motifs all speak to a desire for luxury and refinement. These aspirational objects reflected a shift in British society, where consumerism and the acquisition of fashionable goods became increasingly important for expressing social status. The growth of the ceramics industry was intertwined with the rise of the British Empire and the expansion of trade routes. Exotic pigments and decorative styles, like those found on this saucer, bear witness to Britain’s global reach. A study of the Coalport factory’s records and pattern books might reveal more about the specific market this saucer was intended for, as well as the social meanings it carried at the time.