Antique Livesley, Powell & Co. Blue & White Abbey Tea Bowl & Saucer, English Ironsotne 1850

Bring a touch of historic mid-19th century English elegance to your collection at home with this Livesley, Powell & Co. handleless tea bowl and matching saucer. Featuring the classic Abbey blue and white design, handleless cups {called tea bowls} were made and used for practical reasons. It was a common 18th and early 19th-century habit to pour hot tea from the cup into the deep saucer to cool it quickly. Without a handle, the drinker held the cup by the rim and base. This allowed them to feel the heat directly; if the cup was too hot to hold comfortably, the tea was too hot to drink without burning their mouth.

A complete set like this is rare to find these days, Its crisp, detailed Abbey motif transports you to quiet cloisters and sunlit gardens, a perfect reminder of the artistry and craftsmanship of this period. This handleless design offers a minimalist elegance, allowing the beauty of the printed pattern and refined form to take center stage. You can just imagine it beside you in the quiet of the morning, where an everyday ritual from another century feels unexpectedly modern again

Complimentary U.S. shipping included.

• Measures: Saucer-6" x 1-1/4"h;cup-3-3/4" x 3-1/4"h.