Tea bowl

The tea bowl is complete, apart from a small chip on the foot. The bowl is circular in shape. In profile, the bowl has a slightly upward-flaring wall topped by a straight, slightly outward-flaring rim. The lower part of the wall is curved towards the bottom, which is flat with a small central nipple. The bowl rests on a solid ring foot. There is a small pointed nipple in the center of the underside of the bottom, and it is surrounded by a raised ring. There are small linear marks on the inner base; the decoration is applied by transfer printed; it is blue in color and has an oriental motif (Two Temples). The printed decoration is visible under the inner rim, on the inner base and on the outer wall. The decoration under the inner rim consists of a complex frieze made up of five different motifs, some of which are repeated alternately. Beneath the rim is a braid made of a row of small pearls in reserve, with a core. This is followed by a band composed of two alternating motifs, separated by a solid band in dark blue adorned with a half-flower and two scrolls 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; it is bordered by an acanthus leaf and features a central Chinese motif, the full 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 zones with a fish-scale motif and closed by scrolls. The decoration on the inner bottom consists of three rocks emerging from the water and arranged in a triangle; curved plant stems emerge from the largest rock. The outer wall features an oriental scene of islands, two of which are linked by a bridge spanning a river. On one of the islands stand two tiered temples with dark blue roofs, each with an entrance and staircase; in one 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 rectangular window closed by an X-shaped cross. The island borders a river on the left, 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 with two angled compartments and a post; the compartments are 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 angled compartments decorated with swastikas. The rest of the wall is occupied by two islands with pavilions, stepped pagoda, bridge, trees and rocks. A small boat sails past these islands. The rendering of the decor is quite clean. The junction of the frieze under the inner edge is visible. The decoration on the outer wall has been cut away.