A rare Cozzi ballooning subject teabowl, c.1784, painted with figures watching and pointing to a hot

A rare Cozzi ballooning subject teabowl, c.1784, painted with figures watching and pointing to a hot air balloon in flight above trees and a small arched building, the interior with a single flower sprig, traces of a gilt line rim, red anchor mark, 7.1cm dia.

The Mongolfier Brothers undertook a demonstration flight of their hot air balloon in June 1783, sparking a number of further experimental flights. On 15th April 1784, Count Francesco Zambeccari made an ascent from a platform on the bacino di San Marco in Venice - the first balloon flight to be witnessed in Italy.