An extremely rare blue and white Isleworth tea bowl and saucer printed in the "Three Swans" pattern, dating to c1780.
The pattern features three swans in the foreground, with smaller birds perched in trees on islands close by.  Another bird is in flight.  Diaper border at the rims.
A large sherd with this pattern was excavated at the Thames site at Isleworth and is illustrated by Massey, Pearce and Howard, Isleworth Pottery and Porcelain (2003), p.28, fig.35. Another saucer of this pattern is illustrated on p.67, fig.103.  See also Steven Goss's book "British Blue and White Saucers 1745-1795 - A Guide to Pattern Identification, page 220, Plate 422 (pictured).
*Previously in Geoffrey Godden's collection, mis-attributed to Derby and carrying his sticker on the underside of the saucer. *
Saucer 12cm diameter.  Teabowl 8cm diameter.
Both teabowl and saucer in very good condition, with just a little roughness around the rim of the tea bowl.
Catalogue ref: D5/806