Saucer

The saucer is complete. It is circular in shape. The wall is flared at the top, and the rim is plain. The wall curves at the base towards the sock, which is slightly domed. It rests on a ring-shaped foot. The underside of the base is recessed and flat. There is a mark printed in blue below the bottom: it consists of a square containing symbols. There are a few flaws in the glaze under the base; the decoration is painted on the glaze and applied by transfer printed; the painted decoration is copper-colored and the printed decoration is blue with an oriental motif (Two Temples). The printed decoration is visible below the inner rim 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 diamond background with a core bordered by a volute in dark blue, 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; one of them features a standing figure. These temples are surrounded by trees, and tiered rocks lie on the shore. Behind the temples is a wall with four sections that intersect at an angle. The island borders a river to 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 fence of which only 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 angled compartments decorated with swastikas. In the background is a large island with pavilions, tiered pagoda, bridge, trees and rocks. A small boat sails past this island. The frieze junction under the inner edge is visible. There is a copper fillet on the edge.