A Chinese porcelain English-decorated large mug 2nd half 18th century

A Chinese porcelain English-decorated large mug 2nd half 18th century, the large cylindrical form originally decorated with a large floral panel and with formal underglaze blue borders to the neck and foot, with a later added gilt inscription for 'Thomas & Elizabeth Newman, Norwich, February 26th 1785', and with a gilt floral sprig beneath the handle, 12.2cm high.

Provenance: the Helen Espir Collection, no. 906. Purchased from Jonathan Bennet, January 2007.

This mug, made later in the 18th century, has been deliberately decorated with the intention of allowing later decoration, probably in Europe. Unfortunately the surname of Newman is a common one in the Norwich area and despite the precise dating it has not been possible to find out anymore about the happy couple.