Dessert cup

The cup is complete. It is circular in shape. The wall is slightly curved like a barrel, and the neck is narrowed under the rim, which is flared. The wall is narrowed at the base. It rests on a pedestal; the underside of the base is recessed and slightly conical. The handle is vertical. Oval in shape and cross-section, it is attached below the shoulder and above the base of the wall. It features fine fluting on the sides and, at mid-height, is decorated with a square element featuring a horizontal row of pearls in relief ; The decoration is applied by underglaze printing (Transfer printed); it is blue in color and oriental in motif (Two Temples). The printed decoration is visible under the inner rim and on the outer wall. The decoration under the inner rim consists of a complex frieze made up of four different motifs, some of which are repeated alternately. Below the rim is a band composed of two alternating motifs, separated by a solid band in dark blue decorated with a half-flower in reserve; it is bordered at its base by a latticework with central crosses and itself bordered by a scroll. One of the main motifs is a latticework with central crosses, bordered by an acanthus leaf and featuring a central Chinese motif, the solid Ju-i with a small core in reserve. This trellis supports two mirrored Greciques, bordered by a scroll and a cluster of pearls. The other motif features a hexagonal rhombus background with a core, bordered by a dark blue volute, cut at the edge into two half-flowers to accommodate a butterfly with outstretched wings. The butterfly is encircled by two areas with a fish-scale motif and closed by scrolls. The decoration on the outer wall consists of an oriental scene of islands, two of which are linked by a bridge spanning a river. On one of the islands are two tiered temples with dark blue roofs, each with an entrance and staircase; in one of them stands a figure. These temples are surrounded by trees, and tiered rocks lie on the shore. At the rear of the temples is a wall with three sections intersecting at right angles; one section has two open square windows, while the other has a long window closed by an X-shaped cross. The island borders a river on the right, spanned by a single-arched stone bridge, seen in profile, on which two bald figures stand, following one another. Behind the bridge, the temple island is enclosed by a two-compartment fence angled with a post; the compartments are adorned with a central rectangle. The bridge leads to another island lined with rocks and trees, including a willow tree. In the foreground, a fence crosses the river, with compartments intersecting at an angle and decorated with swastikas. To the left of the temples is an island with pavilions, a tiered pagoda, trees and rocks. The rendering of the decor is blurred. The junction of the frieze under the inner edge is visible. The decoration on the wall has been cut away. The handle has been molded separately.