Author Description

Tea and coffee cups are amongst the most collectable of all ceramics. They are easily found, appear in all kinds of shapes and patterns, are decorative to look at, are easily displayed and can be relatively inexpensive. They have been made in Britain since the middle of the eighteenth century and have evolved as an art form in their own right. The changes in design reflect the advances made in manufacturing processes and materials as well as changes in the fashions of society. This book charts their development over two hundred years, providing information on the methods of decoration, influential factories and designers, a guide to dating the many different styles and help with identifying the manufacturers. Steven Goss has been involved in the antiques trade for over twenty years, as a full-time professional dealer, specialist consultant to a leading provincial auction house, writer and collector. Educated at a special school for the physically disabled, his interest in antiques is diverse and includes early glass, furniture and silver, but porcelain is the main focus of his attention. He is an enthusiastic collector of British tea and coffee cups and lives in Suffolk. Book jacket.--Jacket.