Teabowl (cup) and saucer, ca. 1784
Photo courtesy of Christie's
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Photo courtesy of Christie's

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Photo courtesy of Christie's
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The teabowl and saucer have a grainy, white body with small, black flecks, a clear glaze, and floral polychrome and gilt ornament.

The saucer has an unglazed footrim pared down to a square profile, and a high, cupped silhouette with a very slender rim. The teabowl has a similar footrim, and a true teabowl silhouette: high, almost-straight foot; slightly flaring sides; no handle. Both the bowl and the saucer have gold rims (note that the rims are plain, not serrated). Below the rim on the exterior of the bowl and upper surface of the saucer is a loose wreath of cornflowers: blue with iron-red highlighting, and chartreuse green foliage with dark brown outlining. The upper/outer surfaces of both pieces are ornamented with individual blue blossoms with yellow and green leaves. Gold blossoms of similar configuration are interspersed among them. The interior of the cup and the underside of the saucer are unornamented.

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