Norcrest Coffee Saucer Appraisal

Norcrest Hand-Painted Scenic Tea/Coffee Saucer

This item is a small, wavy-edged saucer, likely part of a tea or coffee set, featuring an intricately hand-painted scenic landscape. The saucer's base color appears to be an off-white or cream, serving as a canvas for the detailed artwork. The primary scene depicted is an arched stone bridge spanning a body of water, possibly a river or stream, surrounded by autumnal trees and foliage. The colors used are predominantly earthy tones, including various shades of brown for the trees and bridge, hints of golden yellow and orange for fall leaves, and muted greens for patches of grass along the banks. The water is rendered in darker grays and blues, reflecting the bridge and surrounding scenery. In the background, a lighter, almost ethereal glow suggests a distant horizon or sky, with faint outlines of more trees. The painting style appears to be 'Norcrest hand printed 7/266' as per the context, suggesting it might be a transfer print with hand-painted enhancements or entirely hand-painted by a Norcrest artist, with '7/266' potentially being a pattern or item number. The rim of the saucer has a scalloped or wavy edge, adding a decorative touch. Based on the Norcrest context, it likely dates from the mid-20th century, a period when Norcrest was active in producing decorative porcelain and ceramic items. There are no immediately visible chips, cracks, or significant wear on the painted surface or edges from the provided image, indicating good condition. The craftsmanship suggests a commercially produced item with decorative flair, often aimed at the souvenir or collectible market of its era.