Japanese Saki Cup

Okay, okay I know that I said I’d make sure that I’d buy some items other than ceramics, and I promise I will, but I just couldn’t pass up on the hum dinger of an antique. This is the only item bought for round 2, with the drinking mug being moved into round 2 as well.

Described by the seller as a “japanese saki cup” it also was described as having a crack to one side, a chip to the footrim, and it also has a chip to the top – so you probably think I’m as cracked as the cup to have paid £11.09 for it including the postage!

Why did I buy it? Well, I’ve added an image of the auction below and if you keep on reading you’ll find out why – but needless to say I’m quite excited about this one!

Okay so let me explain why I’ve bought this, and why I think it will give me one of the best profits I’m likely to make in this challenge!

The truth is that I recognised this for what it really is straight away, and it certainly isn’t Japanese, nor is it a saki cup.

It is in fact an early English porcelain teabowl made by one of the rarest factories that you could hope to find, which is Longton Hall.

Longton Hall was only in existance for 10 years between 1749 and 1760 and was also a very small concern when compared to some of the bigger manufacturers like Worcester or Bow, and so it’s not surprising that it rarely turns up, and that it reaches pretty good prices when it does – you can see a slop bowl (for the tea dregs) in this pattern that sold at Bonhams in 2007 for £696 here.

Now the bowl at Bonhams was better painted than mine, in better condition, and will be rarer – since you’d get 1 slop bowl per teaset, but perhaps 8 or so teabowls, but even so, I still expect a good profit from this since Longton Hall rarely turns up on ebay at all.

Although this was an excellent buy, the description wasn’t very accurate and the teabowl was in worse condition than explained, with it having had a piece broken out and restuck, and some professional restoration including painting over the damage.

However, I’d expect my £11.09 to grow to at leat £100, and possibly a little more – keep watching to find out how it does!