Square gilded cup, English, German?

I've had this unusual cup for a while, and have never come across anything similar. I love the elaborate handle, and the gilding is all hand done. There is an x scratched i n the base, probably the workman's mark for the moulder. Something indefinable about it makes me think continental, maybe German. All my reference books cover British china, so I'm rather stuck without even a term to google. I know that the square shape with cut off corners has been used by Dresden in the 19th and 20th centuries, which is why I'm favouring Germany. I've been looking for a saucer to go with it, without any success! I'd like to have an idea of the date. Twisted handles were popular in the early 19th century but of course have been made on and off ever since. The amount of hand work involved in this suggests to me an early date, but any ideas welcome. It is currently tucked away in a box somewhere, so I'm afraid I haven't got the measurements, but will have a look. From what I remember it is small but not as small as 18th century cups.

 

This seems similar, but doesn't have any information that might help
Octagonal Porcelain Cup and Saucer with Gilt Detail and Rope Twist Handle | #805257514 (worthpoint.com)

 

Seems like it would be hard to drink out of. Would leak around the edges - unless you had a square mouth the same size!

 

You have to drink from the corners. I have some dishes left to me by my mother, Franciscan Tiempo (not my photo, grabbed it off the web). My set is the light green color.

Anyway, we learned the hard way if you don't drink from the corners they are really dribble cups

 

It is Germanic, you see a lot of "a present from wherever" cups and shaving mugs in this ware. Late 19thc - 1900-ish Silesian import. Not early 19thc.

 

Wow, that is exactly it! But as you say no real information on where or when it was made. At least I know the saucer to look out for in charity shops etc, if one is ever to be found, and I now have a good search term for the future, "rope twist handle".

 

I think you have got it exactly, a rather showy but probably cheap cup from Germany, circa 1900. A surprising amount of workmanship for a cheap gift item, but there are a lot of handpainted flowery items in the same category - seaside giftshop type. The ceramic industry used to employ so many thousands of people, I expect it was one way for people to use their art skills to make a (meagre) living, but at least their products live on. Thank you, blooey!

 

When I extract this from its hiding place in a box somewhere (there are many boxes in my house!), I will try to drink from it and see if I can manage it without dribbles! I know there are lots of fancy art deco teasets, many perhaps given as wedding presents, which were fairly unusable and spent several generations in cupboards before being sold off as collectables, unused. At least the corners on my cup are flattened, not pointed like some Clarice Cliff designs! It must have been awkward holding your cups in a way to drink from the corner, but I'm glad your set has been used. Square plates and bowls are ok and probably easier to store than round ones, but square cups are a step too far. As for square toilets . . .

 

PS - your cheerful Franciscan Tiempo set must be so reminiscent of family holiday get-togethers, barbeques etc. My mother had a Franciscan Desert Rose set, added to over the years and brought out every Christmas, Easter and celebration, just to look at it takes me back to the old days. She got rather clumsy in later years and there were only oddments left by the time I got them, and I've only saved a few items, just for the memories.

 

This is my set, we put a shelf over the picture window in our dining area to hold it. Sorry the photo isn't great, it's overcast today.

 

I could sit there all day, Marie. Please don't tell me the view from your other windows is better.

 

It's about the same, pines, oaks and a dirt road out front. We have a "Cape Cod lawn" - covered in pine needles. DH goes out once in June to weed wack and tufts of grass that come up, we don't own a lawn mower, no need

 

Really fabulous view, and I see that the green of your dining set is echoed in some of the leaves outside. I too could just sit there and watch the leaves change colour and the stream flow. My views both front and back are of roads, cars and Victorian terraced houses opposite. It didn't worry me too much until I saw yours! View envy . . .

 

I thought that was water out the window, but I see a mailbox now, not that I'm stalking you or anything.... We have the pine needles here in N. Louisiana. And, sorry to everyone for the hijack.

 

Oh, I like to say we are 1 million dollars or 100 years from a waterfront view

 

I thought it was a stream too, but the trees are beautiful, and the road looks inviting adventure.