18th century ornate Tea Bowl circa 1740 - 1770, as in museums and books

Being offered is a beautiful 18th century tea cup (bowl). It has a diameter of 3 ½” and is 2” high. It is decorated in a golden floral basket with expert gilding.

In the 18th century, teacups evolved from handle-less "tea bowls" to the familiar, handled cups we know today, often made from porcelain imported from China or replicated by European manufacturers.

There is a near identical example of this tea cup in the Colonial Williamsburg Museum and an excavated example at the Fort Ticonderoga Collection (see pictures). Shards of these cups are often found at Revolutionary War sites, validating their use (see pictures). This cup is in excellent condition and would make a great addition to Colonial collection or even a softer touch to a Revolutionary War collection.