{"product_id":"wedgwood-florentine-dark-blue-demitasse-cups-and-saucers-set-of-4-vintage-english-bone-china-bond-shape-1929-1989","title":"Wedgwood \"Florentine Dark Blue\" Demitasse Cups \u0026 Saucers Set For 4","description":"Wedgwood's Florentine Dark Blue pattern features an intricate border of white mythical griffins, fantastical flora, and Renaissance scrollwork on deep cobalt blue ground—a design first introduced in 1929 that became one of the manufactory's longest-running colorways, produced for 60 years until its discontinuation in 1989.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nThis listing includes:\u003cbr\u003e\n• Four (4) Bond Shape Demitasse Cups - 2 1\/4\" height (5.7cm)\u003cbr\u003e\n• Four (4) Demitasse Saucers - 2 5\/8\" height (6.7cm)\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nCondition: Excellent—no chips, cracks, or repairs across all eight pieces. White heraldic decoration and cobalt blue ground intact with no wear across all pieces.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nDetails:\u003cbr\u003e\n• Collection: Wedgwood Florentine | Design: \"Dark Blue Rim\" (No Center Design)\u003cbr\u003e\n• Material: English bone china with hand-rendered white mythical creature and scrollwork border on deep cobalt blue ground\u003cbr\u003e\n• Production Period: 1929-1989 (discontinued after 60 years of production)\u003cbr\u003e\n• Authentication: Wedgwood backstamp with Florentine Dark Blue pattern designation\u003cbr\u003e\n• Rarity: Discontinued colorway; Bond Shape demitasse sets in Dark Blue increasingly scarce and among the most sought-after Florentine variants\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nAn ideal addition for collectors seeking authentic English bone china rather than contemporary imitations, this demitasse set delivers Wedgwood's documented heritage since 1759—the same Renaissance-inspired craftsmanship that has graced formal British and European tables since the interwar era, a design editor favorite for its striking cobalt and white palette.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nPerfect for:\u003cbr\u003e\n• Formal after-dinner espresso and demitasse service\u003cbr\u003e\n• Holiday entertaining and Christmas dessert courses\u003cbr\u003e\n• Afternoon tea and coffee service for intimate gatherings\u003cbr\u003e\n• Bridal shower and wedding gift for the discerning host\u003cbr\u003e\n• Mother's Day or housewarming gift for Anglophile collectors\u003cbr\u003e\n• Generational heirloom pieces for building a formal service\u003cbr\u003e\n• Pairing with matching Florentine Dark Blue dinnerware\u003cbr\u003e\n• Replacement pieces for inherited Florentine Dark Blue services\u003cbr\u003e\n• Display in a china cabinet as a collector's conversation piece\u003cbr\u003e\n• Styled tablescapes for editorial shoots and event design\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nLooks beautiful in:\u003cbr\u003e\n• Formal dining rooms on sideboards during after-dinner service\u003cbr\u003e\n• Glass-front china cabinets alongside other Wedgwood Florentine colorways\u003cbr\u003e\n• Traditional English kitchens on open display shelving\u003cbr\u003e\n• Navy and white dining rooms as a perfectly coordinated accent\u003cbr\u003e\n• Butler's pantries and bar carts for after-dinner presentation\u003cbr\u003e\n• Library sitting rooms for intimate coffee service\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nComplements Decor Styles:\u003cbr\u003e\n• Old Money British and English Country House\u003cbr\u003e\n• Grandmillennial and Traditional Maximalist\u003cbr\u003e\n• Renaissance Revival and Neoclassical interiors\u003cbr\u003e\n• Navy and White Classic British aesthetics\u003cbr\u003e\n• Formal European dining room traditions\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nEach demitasse cup and saucer showcases Florentine Dark Blue's signature border—white mythical griffins, fantastical flora, and Renaissance scrollwork rendered against a deep cobalt blue ground, framed by a crisp blue rim line. The Bond Shape demitasse cup offers a slightly wider, more open form than a standard espresso cup, making it particularly elegant for formal after-dinner service. The all-over cobalt blue ground with no center design creates a bold, graphic presence on the table that reads as confidently modern as it does historically rooted—equally at home in a maximalist collector's cabinet or a spare, high-contrast dining room. The cobalt and white palette pairs beautifully with silver flatware, white linen, and crystal stemware for a cohesive formal table.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nHistory of Pattern and Brand:\u003cbr\u003e\nThe Florentine pattern first appeared in Wedgwood's design archives in 1874 and was introduced on fine bone china in 1931, inspired by Renaissance art and architecture from Florence, Italy. The Dark Blue colorway, introduced in 1929 as one of the earliest Florentine variants, ran for a remarkable 60 years before its discontinuation in 1989—making surviving pieces from this colorway particularly prized by collectors. Wedgwood, established in 1759 by Josiah Wedgwood in Staffordshire, England, earned a royal warrant with Queen Charlotte's 1765 commission and remains one of Britain's most storied ceramics manufacturers, with every piece of Florentine still handcrafted at their Stoke-on-Trent workshops.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nCare Instructions:\u003cbr\u003e\n• Hand wash only with mild detergent and warm water\u003cbr\u003e\n• Avoid abrasive sponges or scouring pads that may damage the white enamel decoration\u003cbr\u003e\n• Do not place in dishwasher or microwave\u003cbr\u003e\n• Dry immediately with soft cloth to prevent water spots on blue rim detail\u003cbr\u003e\n• Store cups nested in saucers with tissue paper between each set to protect rims\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nShipping:\u003cbr\u003e\n• Museum-quality packaging with full insurance coverage\u003cbr\u003e\n• Each cup and saucer individually wrapped in acid-free tissue and bubble wrap\u003cbr\u003e\n• All eight pieces packed together with cushioning between each layer\u003cbr\u003e\n• Double-boxed with cushioning material for maximum protection\u003cbr\u003e\n• Expedited shipping available upon request\u003cbr\u003e\n• International buyers responsible for customs duties and import taxes\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Wedgwood","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48899206906008,"sku":"CT-WED-FDA-CUP-B9AE","price":185.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0444\/9153\/8584\/files\/il_fullxfull.7716999464_dzmz.jpg?v=1776791089","url":"https:\/\/theclassytea.com\/products\/wedgwood-florentine-dark-blue-demitasse-cups-and-saucers-set-of-4-vintage-english-bone-china-bond-shape-1929-1989","provider":"ClassyTea","version":"1.0","type":"link"}