August

THE ANTIQUE

Floral Mugs

The golden days of August draw us outdoors for pottering, reading and refreshments, surrounded by flowers, fruit and foliage. We can continue this abundant theme inside with antique mugs decorated with sprigs of flowers, swags of leaves and fruit. ‘The tradition of flower painting is seen on the very earliest creamware and Delftware – many of these flowers were loosely painted and not readily identifiable, and influenced by the fashion for still-life oil and watercolour paintings of flowers,’ explains Caroline Dennard, ceramics specialist at Halls in Shropshire. ‘In the mid to late 18th century, Chinese-inspired peonies and chrysanthemums tended to dominate, along with cornflowers, roses and French-style ‘Chantilly sprigs’, but these were supplanted by[first published in 1777] by William Curtis.’ Back then, mugs tended to be used for drinking coffee (while tea was served in cups), but also light ales or beer, which was commonly drunk in those days as an alternative to water. ‘Those inscribed with initials or dates would have been commemorative pieces for display,’ adds Caroline. Find collectable antique floral mugs at auction from around £130 upwards. Arrange them on a kitchen shelf to add a summery note.