Saucer

The saucer is complete. It is circular in shape. The wall is flared upwards from the bottom, and the top of the rim is corrugated. It rests on a ring-shaped foot. The underside of the base is recessed and flat; the decoration is painted on the glaze and applied by underglaze printing (Transfer printed); the painted decoration is gilded and the printed decoration is blue with an oriental motif (Two Temples). The printed decoration is visible below the inner edge and on the inner background. The decoration under the inner rim consists of a complex frieze made up of five different motifs, some of which are repeated alternately. Below the rim is a braid made of a strand of small pearls in reserve, with a core. This is followed by a band composed of two alternating motifs, separated by a full band in dark blue 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 background features an oriental scene of islands, two of which are linked by a bridge spanning a river. On one of the islands, in the foreground, stand 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. Behind the temples is a wall with three sections intersecting at right angles; one section features a rectangular window closed by a star. The island borders a river to the right, spanned by a single-arched stone bridge, seen in profile, and on which two bald figures stand, following one another; one appears to be wearing a ponytail. Behind the bridge, the island of temples is enclosed by a fence of which two compartments and a post can be seen; 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. In the background is a large island with pavilions, a tiered pagoda, trees and rocks. A small boat sails past this island. The frieze junction under the inner edge is barely visible.