Description:

A rare dated James Pennington mug bearing the inscription "M/ W, M. /may 3d 1773".  The arrangement of the three letters in a triangle indicates that the mug was made for a married couple.  Below the inscription is printed the reverse pattern of the Three Ladies.  On the side of the mug to the right of the inscription is the main Three Ladies print, showing three Chinese women.  On the other side, the two sections of the pattern are shown beside each other with the reverse pattern higher and adjacent to the handle.  It would seem that little printing in underglaze blue was carried out at the James Pennington factory, as surviving pieces are rare.

As well as being used on Liverpool porcelain, the Three Ladies design was also used at Worcester.