A Regency period English porcelain chocolate cup and cover, attributed to Spode and dating from circa 1815. The elegant two-handled form is richly hand-painted in the Imari palette of cobalt blue, iron red, green and turquoise enamels, with ornate gilding and a raised pearl border. The base and inner lid are inscribed with a green Roman numeral �II,� a classic matching number used by Spode prior to printed factory marks. The Spode factory�s technical innovations in bone china and decoration helped define the style of English porcelain in the early nineteenth century. The �pearl� border, a celebrated Spode innovation, was widely imitated by leading continental factories but rarely matched in quality or refinement. Spode porcelain of this era is highly sought after by collectors for its distinctive design and exceptional craftsmanship. Well-preserved chocolate...