Tuscan Fine English Bone China | Provence | Two Duos (Cup & Saucer) | Pattern C18497 | Circa 1940s–1950s

Tuscan at its most opulent — crimson cartouches, Rococo gold scrollwork, and a full scattered garden between.

Tuscan China was produced by R.H. & S.L. Plant Ltd at the Tuscan Works in Longton, Staffordshire, a pottery with roots in the late nineteenth century that reached its commercial peak in the 1930s through 1950s. The green winged crown backstamp — one of the most recognisable marks in mid-century English bone china — places this production firmly in that period. Provence is a richly decorated pattern that draws on the Sèvres-derived tradition of alternating coloured cartouches and floral reserves: a format that was already two centuries old when Tuscan produced it, and which the Longton potters handled with considerable confidence.

The cups are the generous, slightly flared form on a short footed base with a scrolled handle gilded on the upper spur and outer edge. The body carries an all-over scattered polychrome floral decoration on white ground — pink and red roses, lavender peonies, orange and yellow blooms, blue forget-me-nots, and green foliage — framed between Rococo gold scroll panels at the upper body. The interior rim carries a light scattered floral border. The saucers are more formally composed: a central polychrome floral bouquet medallion at the well, four large alternating crimson and gold Rococo cartouches around the border containing further gold foliate decoration, with scattered polychrome floral sprays filling the intervals between cartouches. A fine gold line runs the scalloped rim edge.
Both duos are in good used condition with no chips, cracks, or crazing on any piece. Gilding shows use-consistent wear: the gold line on the saucer rim and the gilded handle spurs show rubbing across both duos, with one duo showing more pronounced gilding loss to the saucer rim than the other. The floral decoration and crimson cartouche colouring remain strong and fully intact on both pieces.

Key Details:

• Maker: Tuscan Fine English Bone China, Made in England (R.H. & S.L. Plant Ltd, Longton)
• Pattern: Provence (pattern reference C18497)
• Shape: Flared cup on footed base with scrolled handle; scalloped saucer
• Backstamp: Tuscan / Fine English Bone China / winged crown device / Made in England / "Provence" — green mark, circa 1940s–1950s
• Pieces: 4 — two cups, two saucers (two duos)
• Material: Bone china
• Period: Circa 1940s–1950s
• Decoration: All-over scattered polychrome florals on white ground; crimson and gold Rococo cartouches; central floral medallion on saucer well; gold line rim
• Gilding: Good used — rim line and handle spur gilding worn on both duos; one duo shows more pronounced rim loss than the other
• Condition: Good used
• Buyer profile: Tuscan collector; buyer completing a Provence service; display collector comfortable with use-consistent gilding wear

The crimson cartouches have held their colour rather better than the gilding — which is typically the way with Tuscan from this period.