A European-decorated Chinese coffee cup & saucer, Qianlong

Code: 260902B

An attractive Chinese export coffee cup and saucer with added European red and gilt decoration.  The coffee cup has petal moulding around the lower half, and incised flower heads around the rim. The saucer has a butterfly painted in the centre.  Saucer diameter 11cm (4.3"), cup height 5.9cm (2.3").

A teabowl & saucer of this design are shown in David Howard's 'China for the West', figure 153.

Date: Qianlong c1740-50

Condition: both the cup and saucer are in very good condition.  The foot of the cup is rough and somewhat uneven, possibly caused during manufacture. There is a small manufacturing fault in the base of the saucer, not visible from the front.  There is some wear to the gilt decoration, especially at the rims.