Antique Copeland Spode Herring’s Hunt “The First Over” Fox Hunt Cup & Saucer

A quintessential piece of English sporting ware, this antique Copeland Spode cup and saucer comes from the celebrated Herring’s Hunt series, featuring “The First Over,” a classic fox-hunting scene derived from the work of renowned 19th-century sporting artist John Frederick Herring Sr. The spirited composition captures a mounted huntsman clearing the countryside alongside hounds, rendered in finely detailed transfer decoration with beautifully applied color.

Rich claret-red borders frame the creamy earthenware body, while the wonderfully distinctive handle is finished in earthy brown and green tones. Even the saucer carries its own expansive sporting landscape, making the set exceptionally decorative whether displayed together or incorporated into a larger collection of English hunt ware.

Archival examples of Copeland Spode’s colored Hunt series are documented as early as the 1930s, with pieces dated to 1937 bearing the same Copeland Spode England markings and Herring-derived imagery.

CONDITION
Lovely antique condition with age-appropriate surface and glaze wear. Any minor crazing, utensil marks, color variation or small manufacturing irregularities are consistent with the age and hand-finished nature of the piece. No obvious major damage is visible in the photographs provided.

SIZE
Comparable period examples of this teacup form measure approximately 3.5" in diameter x 2.5"H with a 5.75" saucer; please confirm against your piece before publishing.

PROVENANCE
England, circa 1930s. From Copeland Spode’s celebrated sporting series based upon the original drawings of John Frederick Herring Sr.

MAKER
Copeland Spode, England. Both pieces retain printed factory marks identifying the scene as “The First Over.” The cup is numbered 6 and the saucer 4, numbering that is documented on these respective forms within the Herring’s Hunt series.

MATERIAL
English glazed earthenware with transfer-printed sporting decoration and hand-applied enamel color.

STYLING SUGGESTIONS
Absolutely made for the hunt-club house. Display it on an English oak or mahogany bookcase, tucked into a collection of sporting art, silver trophies and leather-bound books, or use it as the unexpected finishing touch on an elevated equestrian bar or coffee station. It would also be fantastic holding calling cards, matchbooks or a small arrangement of seasonal greenery when not being used traditionally.