Italian Majolica Espresso Cups

8 Italian Faience Majolica Pottery/Earthenware Espresso Cups Dimensions: 2" tall and 2" in diameter, 3" with handle Materials: Ceramic Our Grandmother collected Majolica in the 1930's to 1950's. We have several more listings of her collection. The FF on the bottom may be for Florence, or could be the artist signature. RAFFAELLESCO Collection: Among the most popular and enduring Italian majolica patterns, the classic Raffaellesco traces its origin to 16th century, and the graceful arabesques of Raphael's famous frescoes. The stylized dragon of the central motif was reputedly painted first by Raphael, a master painter and architect of the Italian High Renaissance. Raffaellesco is a benevolent deity who bestows good luck and fair winds to seagoing merchants, thus the puffs of wind steaming from the dragon's mouth. We have added a lid that would have been for a small pot in a slightly different pattern. 2 of the cups have a significant chip and one is missing its handle. (see pictures) There are also some 'flea bite' chips on the rims of some of them.