Teacup

The cup is complete. It is circular in shape. The wall is slightly flared at the top, and the top of the rim is corrugated. The wall curves at the base towards the sock, which is flat. It rests on a pedestal, which has a small annular bulge at its junction with the wall. The underside of the bottom is recessed and flat. The handle is vertical. At the top, the handle is folded down against the wall, with a palmette-shaped end; near the base, it has a small external bulge, before being curved and then folded down at its junction with the wall, where its end is slightly domed. There are a few small marks on the inner base ; The decoration is molded, painted on the cover and applied by underglaze printing (Transfer printed); the painted decoration is golden and the printed decoration is very pale blue with an oriental motif (Two Temples). The molded decoration can be seen on the rim, which is wavy. The printed decoration is visible under the inner rim, on the inner base and on the outer wall. The handle has also been molded separately; ear-shaped, its face features a central rib, evidence of the molding process. The decoration under the inner rim consists of a complex frieze of five different motifs, some of which are repeated in alternation. 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 inner background features three rocks rising from the water in a triangular pattern, with plant stems emerging from the largest rock. The outer wall features an oriental scene of islands, two of which are linked by a bridge spanning a river. One of the islands features two tiered temples with dark-blue roofs, one of which has an entrance with a staircase featuring a standing figure. The temples are surrounded by trees, and tiered rocks lie on the shore. At the rear of the temples is a wall with three sections that intersect at right angles; one section has two open square windows, while the other has an open rectangular window. The island borders a river to 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; it features compartments that intersect at an angle and are decorated with swastikas. The rest of the wall is occupied by two with pavilions, tiered pagoda, trees and rocks. A small sailing boat sails in front of these. The rendering of the decor is slightly blurred. The junction of the frieze under the inner edge is barely visible. There is gilding on the rim, and touches of gilding on the handle, which also features a printed decoration of rock and pearl portions.