Lot 107. A London delftware caudle cup, dated 1676; 9cm high. Estimate £ 10,000 - 15,000 (€ 11,000 - 17,000). © Bonhams.

Of squat shape with a concave base and single thickened handle, inscribed in blue with the names 'WILLIAM:CHIP' and 'ELIZABETH:CHIP' above the date 1676, the names between borders of alternate chevrons.

Provenance: F.W. Phillips
Mrs. Sinclair, Sotheby's sale, 12 October 1954, lot 17
Thomas G. Burn, Rous Lench Collection, Christie's sale 29-30 May 1990, lot 8
Syd Levethan, Longridge Collection, Christie's sale 24 January 2011, lot 34.

Literature: Illustrated by Lipski and Archer, Dated English Delftware (1984), fig.780, also by Leslie B. Grigsby, the Longridge Collection of English Slipware and Delftware (2000), fig.D107.

Exhibited: Michael Archer, English Delftware at the Rijksmuseum (1973), cat. no. 43

Note: The shape is known as a caudle cup and the decoration suggests this example was made for a marriage. Many examples of the shape were found at Pickleherring and other Caudle cups were made at Norfolk House. An example sold by Bonhams from the Sampson & Horne Collection was inscribed 'A Health to King Charles 2d', suggesting the shape was intended for toasting.

Bonhams London. The Olive Collection, 31 Jan 2019