The decoration on this tea bowl was referred to as the ‘Cannonball’ pattern as the river landscape has round rocks or ‘cannonballs’ in its design. Probably derived from a Chinese pattern, this highly popular design was also used by other English porcelain factories. Chinese blue and white porcelain continued to be in demand in the 18th century and English manufacturers sought to imitate the Chinese imports for a share of the lucrative market. By the early 1760s, improvements had been made to Worcester blue and white porcelain, such that it was able to compete with Chinese imports, especially in terms of price. The high price of tea in Europe in the 17th and early 18th centuries meant that only the wealthy could afford to drink it and tea drinking became a fashionable pastime. By the end of the 18th century, however, it had become more affordable and its consumption more widespread. This led to a rising demand for tea wares from both East Asia and Europe.
