T.F. & S. Ltd - Phoenix China - Longton, England - Model: Tring

About four weeks ago I bought this lovely porcelain tea set made by Thomas Forester & Sons Ltd for a mere €10:

6-off Cups
11-off Saucers
9-off Side plates

According to the Mark suggests they were made between 1912 and 1925. The gilding on cup handles is slightly worn, otherwise the pieces are generally free of excessive signs of use.









The only damage is to two cups, although I think they were caused by stress during the manufacturing process. The first one is 1.5cm crack that is behind the varnish, and only appears within the bowl, and hasn't progressed through to outside surface.



The other is a ring-crack round the handle. This too, is underneath the varnish and there are no signs of a repair.





Lovely though they are I propose selling them as six sets of three items.

How do I explain those cracks, blemishes, etc. Thanks for your experiences with this type of problem.

 

Sorry I can't answer your question, but...

what is meant by "off"?

 

I've used the term "off" ever since I started work in engineering 69-years ago. On a drawing the number of items used is always referred to as X-off. What would use?

 

I simply would have said:
6 cups
11 saucers
9 side plates

But then I've never trained in engineering.

 

My dad was an engineer, but to him Off side meant USA football.(LOL)

 

You could describe them as stress cracks. Also, a cup, saucer and side plate are often referred to as a trio.

 

Thank you. I will take up both those suggestions.

 

That off thing is a very common British engineering term. Also seen on things like invoices and orders.

 

Not in use here. Off side probably goes with things going "off piece", which also isn't used here.

 

That’s off piste, rather than piece.

 

LOL - never seen it written down before.

 

Would call those hairline cracks. The finish is a glaze, rather than varnish. The way the hairlines have yellowed, there is no way that they are just under the glaze.

 

Using my nails I cannot feel any break in the glaze. I have tried another set of photos in the sunlight.

 

Yes, Brad is right -- hairline cracks.

 

If they have brown in them, they're hairlines. The brown is gunk that's worked its way in over the centuries. It happens.