Vintage Foley Bone China Teacup & Saucer – Emerald Green Band, Gold Filigree Sprays, Rose Tulip Bouquet, Gilt Handle, England 1950s
AvailableA Foley bone-china teacup and saucer dressed for the evening — a broad emerald-green band hung with gold filigree sprays, a cream border traced with feathered gilt scrolls, and a Dresden-style bouquet waiting at the bottom of the cup: a pink rose leading tulip, narcissus, cornflower-blue and small red berries, ringed in gold.
The green band carries the drama. Each filigree spray is a little openwork fan of gold — coral-like, netted, catching the light one by one as the cup turns, like brooches pinned along green velvet. The handle is a full-gilt upturned loop, and the gold runs unbroken down to a fully gilded pedestal foot, so the whole frame of the cup reads in gold against the green.
The mark underneath tells a good story. The lion over 18 EB 50 — Foley Bone China, Made in England is E. Brain & Co., the Fenton pottery that won the legal fight over the name Foley in 1925 — the loser had to rename itself Shelley. The same small firm invited Vanessa Bell, Duncan Grant and Laura Knight to design china for the famous 1934 Art in Industry exhibition, and in 1958 it bought the far older Coalport works outright. This mark version dates the set to circa 1948–1963; a hand-written pattern number 3777 in ochre and a gilder's 5 sit beside it.
A cup for the emerald-and-gold shelf, the grandmillennial cabinet, a Christmas tea table, or anyone who likes their teacups with a little courtroom drama in the backstamp.
Details
- Type
- Teacup & Saucer Set
- Maker
- E. Brain & Co. (Foley China Works), Fenton, Stoke-on-Trent, England
- Era
- Circa 1950s (lion mark with Made in England, 1948–1963)
- Pattern
- Hand-numbered 3777 — emerald band with gold filigree sprays, Dresden-style floral bouquet centre
- Shape
- Wide-mouth cabinet cup on gilt pedestal foot, wavy rim, full-gilt loop handle
- Size
- Cup ~3.75" / 9.5 cm dia × 2.25" / 5.7 cm tall; Saucer ~5.5" / 14 cm dia (approximate)
- Material
- Fine Bone China
- Decoration
- Emerald ground band, gold filigree transfers, gilt feather scrolls, polychrome bouquet medallions
- Markings
- Black lion mark, 18 EB 50, Foley Bone China, Made in England; hand-written 3777; gilder's numeral 5
Condition
Good vintage condition, honestly disclosed: there is a small chip to one section of the cup rim, and a very faint tea-staining shadow over the bouquet medallion inside the cup. Otherwise the set presents beautifully — the emerald band deep and even, the filigree gold strong, gilt on handle, rims, and foot bright, and the saucer free of any flaws. No cracks, crazing, or repairs on either piece; pricing reflects the disclosed wear. Please review all photos as part of the condition record.
Backstamp & Pattern
- Maker
- E. Brain & Co. (Foley China Works), Fenton, Stoke-on-Trent, England
- Pattern
- Hand-numbered 3777 — emerald band with gold filigree sprays, Dresden-style floral bouquet centre
- Era
- Circa 1950s (lion mark with Made in England, 1948–1963)
- Mark on base
- Black lion mark, 18 EB 50, Foley Bone China, Made in England; hand-written 3777; gilder's numeral 5
The base carries the maker's printed mark; the wording — especially “England” versus “Made in England” versus “Bone China” — together with any pattern or registration number are the main clues to its age.
Read the full backstamp & pattern guide →
