Cup

The cup is complete; there is a slight defect on the inner rim. It is cylindrical in shape, with a very slightly narrowed wall at mid-height, and a straight rim with a plain top. The base of the wall curves towards the bottom, which is flat. It rests on a rounded foot ring. The underside of the base is recessed and flat. The foot is beveled and free of glaze. It is fitted with a half-round vertical handle; the decoration covers the outside of the cup, as well as the handle. The decoration is a vegetal type treated in Imari. It is hand-painted in two-tone blue underglaze, then traced and painted in iron red, with gold highlights, over glaze. The braid under the outer edge is traced in blue. It is composed of two alternately repeated elements. One element is a vegetal motif traced and painted in red, and bordered by two leaves painted in blue with gold; it is set between curved bands traced in blue and painted in red with gold. The second element is a four-petal trellis with spikes traced in red. On the outer wall, the decoration rests on a blue-painted fillet at the base of the wall and on a section of terrace traced in blue and painted in faded red. On the opposite side of the cove, a large rock with a hole, symbolizing the Chinese philosophy of Taoism, is outlined and painted blue with gold highlights. At the center of the rock rises a bamboo stalk, traced in blue with gold highlights, and terminated by leaves, some of which are en suite, others traced and painted red; a similar bamboo stalk extends, curved, to the right. Two similar leafy, flowering stems line the rock. The stems are traced and painted blue with gilding; the flowers and other leaves are traced and painted red, sometimes with gilding, and some also feature veins. The handle is adorned with a leafy stem outlined in blue and surmounted by a red flower. The wall on either side of the handle features a ribbed leaf in blue. A blue fillet has been traced at the top of the foot.