chocolate-cup; saucer

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Object Type: chocolate-cup; saucer
Museum number: 1887,0307,VIII.34
Description: Pair of chocolate-cups, covers and saucers; twisted handles; ground diapered with network of gold and red; on each are two reserved panels containing on one side, a view of the cottage of the two 'Ladies of Llangollen', in black and on the other side, the arms of the Butler and Ponsonby families in two lozenge-shaped shields, in proper colours; formal borders of ovals enclosing rosettes in gold; monograms in saucers; one cover made later to match. Both lids have metal loop handles. One lid has a higher dome (part of set d, e, f) with two leaves in relief at the top and the loop handle is attached with a bolt inside. On the other lid, the dome has been ground down (part of set a, b, c), there are no leaves, and the metal handle has no bolt; this lid has a wavy rim. The cups are the same in both sets but the saucers differ: the saucer in set a-c has a smaller roundel at centre of underside.
Producer name: Factory of: Derby Porcelain Factory (possible maker of replacement parts)
Production date: 1795-1805; 1790 (replacements)
Materials: porcelain; gold; metal
Technique: glazed; painted; gilded
Dimensions: Diameter: 6.10 inches (saucer); Height: 5.60 inches (cup and cover)
$Inscriptions
Curator's comments: Eleanor Charlotte Butler (1739-1829) and Sarah Ponsonby (1755-1831) both came from aristocratic families, living within a few miles of each other in County Kilkenny, Ireland. They met in 1768. Ten years later they left Ireland together for Wales, eventually settling in the Village of Llangollen, North Wales, in a small cottage just outside the village, called Plas Newydd (new mansion). Their unsympathetic relatives allowed them a modest income only, yet they made improvements to Plas Newydd, hired servants and hosted a range of visitors, attracted by their life and their decision to live together despite the opposition of their families, at a time when it was assumed a woman would marry or remain single. Their house is now a museum. The cups have previously been attributed to the Bristol China Manufactory, but they are not a known Bristol shape and the ceramic body does not resemble Bristol paste (information kindly supplied by Errol Manners, January 2018). One lid and one saucer made later as replacements.
Bibliographic references: Hobson 1905 / Catalogue of the collection of English Porcelain in the Department of British and Mediaeval Antiquities and Ethnography of the British Museum. (VIII.34); Ledger & Pemberton 2010 / Caudle cups and their place in English porcelain 1750-1800 (For a discussion of the form)
Location: On display (G47/dc8)
Exhibition history: 2019 21 Sep-17 Nov Shire Hall Historic Courthouse Museum, Dorchester, Desire, love, identity: exploring LGBTQ histories 2019 8 Jun-31 Aug Norfolk & Norwich Millennium Library, Desire, love, identity: exploring LGBTQ histories 2019 15 Mar-26 May, Bolton Museum, Desire, love, identity: exploring LGBTQ histories 2018-2019 14 Dec-3 Mar, National Justice Museum, Desire, love, identity: exploring LGBTQ histories 2018 25 Sep– 2 Dec, Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, Desire, love, identity: exploring LGBTQ histories
Subjects: heraldry; domestic building; landscape
Associated names: Emblem of: Lady Eleanor Butler; Emblem of: Miss Sarah Ponsonby
Associated places: Topographic representation of: Plas Newydd
Acquisition name: Donated by: Sir Augustus Wollaston Franks
Acquisition date: 1887
Department: Britain, Europe and Prehistory
Registration number: 1887,0307,VIII.34

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