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 lower third of the wall is tapered towards the flat bottom. It rests on a pedestal; the junction of the foot and the wall features an incised ring. The underside of the base is recessed and flat. The handle is vertical, but slightly inclined when viewed from the front. Rectangular in shape, its top extension is curved inwards, while its junction arms with the wall are curved inwards. Its ends, at its junction with the wall, are bent downwards and their tips are oval-shaped. There are 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 gilded and 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 and on the outer wall. The handle has also been molded separately. The decoration under the inner rim consists of a complex frieze of five different motifs, some of which are repeated alternately. Below 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 on the outer wall consists of 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, 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 a 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 islands with pavilions, a tiered pagoda, trees and rocks. A small sailboat sails past these islands. The rendering of the decor is sometimes blurred. The junction of the frieze under the inner edge is barely visible. The decoration on the outer wall has been cut. There is some gilding on the rim and on the handle, which also features a printed design of leafy branches.