I'm always ogling early mochaware, which has gotten quite precious--and believe these two early, small agate marbled mugs are just about my favorite pieces I've ever seen, feeling as if destined to land in my hands--including for the fact that I've got a special weakness for child sized mugs, and finding mochaware versions of them is a rare occasion. I found a listing out there for one very very similar example with matching saucer ($750! or $550 for a second cup alone listed by the same seller) noting that a similar example was described in Jonathan Rickard’s book “MOCHA and related dipped wares, 1770-1939,” in which he attributed it to Apt, a French potter, circa 1780. I don't have a copy of the book to take a look, but my eyes tell me they're very special ones, including for the fact of being glazed both inside and out, and on the undersides, too, and the marbling itself just makes me swoon. I really love the arrow-like points at the ends of those applied handles, too.
Each measures 2 3/8" t x 2 3/8" in diameter; 3 1/4" across at handle. Some small chips at rims and handles (mostly glaze chips but a couple to the clay) as documented, with magnification (these were made as utilitarian pieces to be used everyday, and were!) but no major ones, no cracks, and no repairs, and the color is just glorious. I found these as a pair and seems nice that they should stay together, though if you are interested in just one, let me know. Photos show both together then some details of each individually.
