Pair of Ridgway Coffee Cans c.1866

A quite rare and unusual pair of delightful small sized coffee cans decorated with birds and butterflies.  These were made by E. J. Ridgway soon after moving factories to the Bedford Works circa 1866.  

Decorated with a print which has been over painted, well drawn birds with lots of character and detail, and painted with lots of colours and careful attention.

These caught my eyes as something a little bit special and unusual.  The height at just 55mm makes these smaller than the usual coffee cup of the period, so these are a demi-tasse possibly for esspresso.

Ridgway produced such an enormous volume and variety of wares.  

Makers marks:
impressed marks on both cups and on one cup the pattern number 2/166

Dimensions:
diameter at the rim 54mm height 55mm approx

Weight:
55g and 61g

Age:
150 years

Condition:
Good:  One cup has a small rim chip and the other a short tight hairline.  Usual wear comensurate with their age

Maker:
E. J. Ridgway.