BACKGROUND:
Grafton (and after 1949, Royal Grafton) was the trade name used by A. B. Jones & Sons (Ltd) with their works located at Longton, Stock-On-Trent England and they operated between 1900 ~ 1971
This teacup is another orphan from a previous trio of the same pattern, with the saucer and side plate already having left home and this forlorn teacup is now patiently waiting for someone to love and care for it.
She is around 70 years old and not without her "health" issues, actually the teacup is pretty good shape all things considered - just a very small "rim chip" ... more about that further down in this description. I not so sure this is in fact a chip at all!
DLAT Rating: 7/10 (Darling, Look At This!)
GRAFTON CHINA - Teacup (1) ONLY
Made in England
Grafton China is the tradename used by A.B. Jones & Sons Ltd until around 1949, afterwhich they used the tradename Royal Grafton
Fine bone china which means it is particularly light when held in the hand (it feels like it looks "dainty") and of course it is translucent, this means when held up to a light source you can easily see the shadow of your hand through the china.
Pattern name: Penarth
Pattern number: 6373
It appears that the name chosen for this teacup is a Welsh word and a rough translation to English indicates it means "headland" or promontory and in fact there is a seaside town in Wales of the same name.
Shape: standard English teacup
Hand decorated
Base colouring is a soft, Creamy White colour - not a bright White.
Design: Two colour decorations, Lime Green and Light Grey, have been applied in a pattern which looks reminiscent of bell flowers with foliage. Continuous Lime Green line drawn around the middle of the outside and also just inside the rim of the teacup mouth.
Gold gilding finishing has been applied to the smooth circular rim, both sides of the handle (ornately) and around the foot of the teacup.
Overall, the teacup presents as a soft, gentle teacup that while it is somewhat subdued in appearance, it just goes about it's business of serving a cuppa. A nice representation of the "days of olde" just after WWII.
BACKSTAMP DETAILS:
Here is a photograph of the teacup backstamp
Note decorator and gilder's marks surrounding the backstamp (artist's mark is very near the word Penarth and the gilder's mark is way off to the edge and just a single dash in metallic Gold)
DIMENSIONS:
Mouth: 78mm diameter
Height: 71mm
COSMETIC CONDITION:
USED
CLEAN
NO cracks at all
NO discolouration to the design, specifically the inner teacup and NO tannin stains in the bottom!
That said ... I did notice two very small Black dots INSIDE the teacup which no amount of careful cleaning would remove ... here is a closeup picture of those dots
NO crazing observed, dry and wet checked
Decorative artwork appears as unworn, I did not observe any wear at all.
Gold gilding is in very good condition, no wearing away of the Gold could be seen anywhere ... not even the well used handle.
FLAW ALERT: Not immediately obvious at a casual glance, I discovered a very small "chip" on the side of the mouth rim ... actually I am not convinced it is in fact a chip. It is just below the rim, with the Gold gilding above it undisturbed and looking very closely at the area I can see the glaze remains on the china which tends to point towards this being a manufacturing defect more than damage from normal wear n tear. I have attempted to highlight this area in one of the photographs - believe me, this is a tiny "chip" if in fact it is a chip at all. Visually it is very hard to locate but a rub around the side of the teacup will reveal its location.
