I found this cup today. It seems to be Albert and Victoria. And I think it is bat-printed, a term I learned right here on Antiquers! The dots are raised. There is a touch of luster detail on the lip and handle, quite worn off. Not high quality, but I only paid a few dollars. What do you all think? 1840s? Or later?
I love your cup! From what I understand, bat printing was done in black and was pretty much over with by 1820, making it unlikely in Victorian times. But I look forward to reading what more learned people here say.
Surely it has to be from Victorian times or later if it has Victoria and Albert on it. Logically speaking. Edit Oh and that would mean it's not bat printing logically speaking. Doh They look quite young on it so towards the start of their marriage perhaps?
Nicely clear description of bat-printing here: http://printedbritishpotteryandporcelain.com/how-was-it-made/glue-bat-printing Idle guess, but this could be a more standard transfer technique from a stipple engraving. Could also be some kind of lithographic transfer: "Bamber Gascoigne describes the use of stipple patterns to provide shading on commercial color lithographs (chromolithographs), noting that "The ordinary late nineteenth-century commercial lithograph, sometimes to the eye but certainly through a [magnifying] glass, will seem to have an advanced case of the measles." These shading tints were first applied to the stone by hand with a pen and lithographic ink. In 1879 Benjamin Day, a New Jersey printer, developed transparent sheets embossed with a variety of tinting patterns which could be inked and pressed onto selected areas of the lithographic stone to produce various types of shading. These semi-mechanical "shading mediums" came to be called Ben Day mediums"
I should have included measurements. @Boland It is 2-3/4 inches high. (70 cm) So not very big. It's likely a cider mug, as @pewter2 says.
I’d totally forgotten that Bamber Gascoigne was an author. He’s famous for rather a different thing here.
@Debora @bluumz @Boland @pewter2 @Chinoiserie @Ownedbybear @moreotherstuff Thanks to all for your comments and information. Even if it's not bat- printed, I'm still ok with it! It's just a cool old thing, and this makes me happy!
I would suspect the Queen Victoria image was based on this early photograph. The Prince Albert figure looks generic. Debora
I just happened across this cup and saucer set with a similar graphic: https://www.ebay.com/itm/2047569556...55-0&campid=5338722076&customid=&toolid=10050
Very similar! It seems that my cup is a bit more crude than this fancier example. But maybe they were churning them out after the wedding, due to demand? ...