Saucer

The saucer is complete. It is circular in shape. The wall is flared at the top, and the top of the rim is corrugated. 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; the decoration is molded, painted over glaze and applied by underglaze printing (Transfer printed); the painted decoration is gold and the printed decoration is blue with an oriental motif (Pagoda). The molded decoration can be seen on the rim, which is undulating, and on the inner wall, in the form of slight, equidistant vertical bulges. Printed decoration is visible below the inner rim and on the inner base. 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 decorated with a half-pearl in reserve; it is bordered at its base by a latticework with central crosses and itself bordered by a volute. 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 design features a hexagonal rhombus background with a core bordered by a 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, there are two tiered temples with hatched roofs, each with an entrance and staircase; one features a standing 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 rectangular windows, while the other has a long closed window. 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 fence, of which only a panel and a post can be seen; the panel is decorated 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 lined up 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 decor is clearly rendered. The junction of the frieze under the inner edge is barely visible. There is gilding on the rim, and a ribbon of gilding on the inner wall, decorated with a strand of oval core beads.