Teacup

The cup is complete. It is circular in shape. There is a break which has been repaired with glue. The wall is slightly flared at the top, and the top of the rim is corrugated. At its lower third, the wall tapers towards the bottom, which is flat and recessed. It rests on a foot in line with the wall. 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 its base, it has a double, small external bulge, before being folded down at its junction with the wall, where its end is domed. There is a mark printed in blue below the base: it consists of a square made of two lines, and contains symbols. There are small marks on the inner base ; The decoration is molded and applied by underglaze printing (Transfer printed); the printed decoration is 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 areas with a fish-scale motif and closed by scrolls. The decoration has leaked in places. The inner background features three rocks rising from the water in a triangular pattern; 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. 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 a rectangular window that appears to be closed. 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 frieze junction under the inner rim is barely visible. The cove also features a printed decoration of rock portions and pearls.