Early European tea drinking gained popularity in the 1700s.  At first England imported its teaware from China because it was difficult to locally replicate the fine porcelain used in Chinese teaware.  The invention of the handle on a tea bowl was utilitarian and allowed the British to comfortably hold a cup of hot black tea in fine china. 
 
Here we have 4 hand painted and gilded tea bowls and saucers, these would have been used in a wealthy household.
 
The condition of all pieces are good, some slight loss to gilding.
 
Dimensions : Tea bowl 6cm x 9cm