Tea bowl

The bowl is complete, with a vertical crack and a chip on the foot. It is circular in shape. The wall is flared at the top, the rim is straight and the top is plain. The wall curves at the base towards the sock, which is slightly domed. The bowl rests on a straight ring-shaped foot, with a thin, glaze-free base. The bottom is recessed and flat. The inner base shows a few small linear marks; the decoration is molded, transfer printed and painted with gilding. The decoration is blue with an oriental motif. The molded decoration is visible on the outer wall, and perceptible on the inner wall; it consists of vertical grooves from the foot to the rim. Printed decoration is visible below the rim, on the inner base and on the outer wall. The decoration under the rim is complex and consists of three groups of paired elements repeated alternately under a strand of core beads. One group consists of a stylized half-flower in reserve, beneath which is a scroll and a half-flower; it is flanked by a latticework of off-center beads, similar to fish scales. The other motif features two lobed shapes filled with core beads, on a cross-shaped lattice background. The final motif features two wheels with diamond centers, on a cross-brace background. The background is decorated with three rocks emerging from the water. The decoration on the outer wall is an oriental scene with river, bridge and islands. On the main island are buildings and two tiered pagodas, with trees in between. The roof of the pagoda on the right rests on four pillars, and it is bordered by a willow tree on the left. To the right, a long bridge supported by N-shaped pillars spans a stream, leading to an island on which two buildings stand in front of a tree. The secondary scenery includes another island with buildings and trees, bordered by rocks at water level. The rendering of the decor is clean. A fillet of gilding has been painted on the inner edge. It has been partially erased.