I concur with George. I inherited a great many pieces of "Chelsea". Many of
them are maerked "English Bone China".

-----Original Message-----
From: George L. Miller [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Thursday, March 27, 2003 12:09 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: a ceramic question


The sherds with the blue flowers posted by Susan Houghton appear to be
English bone china.  Are the sherds translucent?  Bone china does craze,
and will stain.  These wares are often called "Chelsea" by antiques
dealers, but the term does appears to be meaningless.  I have seen "Blue
figured" teas listed on invoices which may be one term that was used to
describe these wares.  I think they begin around the 1840s and appear to
have been made for a fair length of time.  Most of those on the antique
market are cups and saucers with occasional teapots and sugar bowls.  The
antiques market is a great place to broaden your view because it has the
common wares and you can handle the objects.  Blue figured cups and saucers
like this could be added to your type collection for probably less that
$20.00, and can be quite cheap if damaged.

George  L. Miller
URS Corporation
Florence, New Jersey