This is just about my favorite antique child's cup I've ever seen. The perfect white ground, the perfect lion, the perfect hand-painted yellow mane and green grass, and the perfect simple "Lion." below. And it is quite a rare one; I've only found one reference to it, which notes the maker as unknown, so while akin to Staffordshire child's mugs of the early 19th c. it may have been produced by another maker. It's a small one as far as these go (the best ones tend to be the smallest ones) and definitely an early one. Yum.
2 1/16" t x 2 1/16" in diameter; 2 3/4" across at handle. One hairline crack down from the lip at the rear of the lion and some bubbling to the glaze on the interior. Otherwise good condition. I'm always amazed that such small cups, used by children, have endured some 200 years. Nice and bright.
