Two rare Worcester 'Mandarin' style coffee cups and saucers circa 1770

one with a wet blue ground reserved with a Chinese family by a pavilion, the other painted in a famille rose palette with a shepherd boy and sheep in a landscape, the saucer with a border of half-length figures

The blue ground cup has a very small chip to the footrim below the centre of one of the reserved panels and a nick to the interior inner rim. It also has a very fine hairline crack to the interior of the cup next to the handle, approximately 2cm long, and another also to the interior approximately 5mm long down the centre of one side. The saucer has a section of the gilded border lacking at the base of the reserve, approximately 3cm long. The second cup and saucer have no visible damage.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

For a teabowl and saucer with the same pattern as the blue ground cup and saucer, see The Zorensky Collection, part I, sold Bonhams 16^th March 2004, lot 186.  For a milk jug and cover with the same pattern as the second cup and saucer, see The Zorensky Collection, part II, sold Bonhams 23^rd February 2005, lot 63.  Also a saucer dish was in the Sir Jeremy Lever Collection, sold Bonhams 7^th March 2007, lot 58.