Nine Designs for Decorated Cups 1845 - 1855

Alfred Henry Forrester made these nine watercolor designs for decorated cups sometime in the 19th century. The designs give us a glimpse into the visual culture surrounding domestic life. The variety of patterns and styles reflects the eclecticism of the Victorian era. We see classical motifs, floral patterns, and geometric designs that speak to both a nostalgia for the past and an embrace of new industrial possibilities. The references to named individuals on some cups imply a personalized giftware market that catered to middle-class consumers. To fully understand these designs, research into Victorian-era decorative arts and the commercialization of ceramics would be beneficial. Trade catalogues and design manuals from the period would reveal the sources and influences that shaped Forrester's work, further enriching our understanding of this era's social aspirations.