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. In 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 and rectangular in shape, with a point on its outer apex. At the top, the handle joins the wall; at the base, it is folded down at its junction with the wall, where its end is rounded. The handle has a central vertical bulge on its face. There is a mark printed in blue below the base: it consists of a square containing symbols. There are flaws in the glaze at the base of the wall. There are small linear marks on the inner base. There is a small vertical crack on the inner wall, on the handle side, which is encrusted with black dirt ; The decoration is molded, painted on glaze and applied by underglaze printing (Transfer printed); the painted decoration is golden in color and the printed decoration is pale blue and oriental in pattern (Two Temples). The molded decoration can be seen on the rim, which is wavy, and on the outer wall, which features rounded vertical ribs. Printed decoration is visible under the inner rim, on the inner base 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 in alternation. 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 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; plant stems emerge from the largest rock. The decoration on the outer wall consists of 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, each with an entrance and staircase; one features a standing 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 that intersect at right angles; one section has two open square windows, while the other has a rectangular window. The island borders a river on the right, 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; the compartments are lined up and decorated with swastikas. The rest of the wall is occupied by two islands with pavilions, a tiered pagoda, trees and rocks. A small boat sails past these islands. The frieze junction under the inner edge is barely visible. The decoration on the outer wall has been cut away. The handle also features a printed decoration of leafy branches. There is gilding on the rim and inner wall: the decoration consists of a wide band followed by a line, which supports a row of alternating leafy and non-leafy plant stems; this decoration has been largely erased.