This is an extremely desirable Charles Wileman teacup trio in the famous "Snowdrops" pattern in red. The shape of the items is called "Daisy". The set was made in or shortly after 1899 and consists of a cup, saucer and side plate.

Wileman (later renamed Shelley and sometimes called Foley) was one of the most respected manufacturers of fine bone china teaware in the late 19th Century, and many of their products are now collector's items. They made many different shapes of cups and the Daisy shape is a popular one - it drinks easily and its flowing, scalloped shape is very elegant.

The Snowdrops print pattern on the Daisy shape was registered in 1899. It is a beautifully dense transfer pattern of delicate snowdrop flowers in panels. If you look well, you see that the two alternating panels show the snowdrops in close up as well as from a distance as a dense jumble, the way you see them on the forest floor. The borders are lined with little snowdrop flowers as well. The pattern is so finely and graciously done that it has become one of the most desirable patterns Wileman has ever done - this is reflected in the price as it is extremely hard to get these cups and I feel proud to be able to offer one!

CONDITION REPORT This set is in excellent antique condition. The white porcelain as well as the turquoise pattern are still bright. There are no chips, cracks or repairs. All items ring well. The gilding is in fabulous condition with hardly any rubbing - just a tiny bit on the rim of the side plate and the cup, but the cup handle is still very bright and shiny, and so is the saucer rim.

Kilns were fired on coal in the late 1800s, and this meant that china from that period can have some firing specks from flying particles. The reason Wileman was able to present high quality tea ware to the middle classes at an affordable price is that they decided to pass items with minor kiln firing blemishes in order to keep costs down. You will see some vague specks on this set, but it is relatively free from them.

All items carry the Wileman mark in red. They also carry the registration number 9177 hand painted in gold.

Please note that all items in my shop are of vintage or antique condition. They have often been used for many years and can have normal signs of wear. I will reflect any damage, repairs or heavy wear in the item description but some minor scratches, nicks and stains can be normal for vintage items and need to be taken into account.

There is widespread confusion on the internet about the difference between chips and nicks, or hairlines and cracks. I will reflect any damage as truthfully as I can, i.e. a nick is a tiny bit of damage smaller than 1mm and a chip is something you can see with the eye; a hairline runs over the surface glazing but not the body of the item and a crack runs through the body of the item, usually weakening its structure. Etcetera - I try to be as accurate as I can and please feel free to ask questions or request more detailed pictures!

DIMENSIONS (diameter at the widest point): cup 8.9cm (3.5"), saucer 14cm (5.5"), side plate 18.6cm (7 1/4").