Chinese coffee cup, c.1760

This Chinese porcelain coffee cup was made during the Qianlong period (1736-1795) for export to North America and Europe. It has polychrome enamel decoration in the Famille Rose palette and an inner rim with an iron red band and gilt Greek key detailing.

The decoration on the front of the cup shows a vase holding flowers and a box containing what looks like a teapot or an incense burner.

Cup is unsigned and stands 2-1/2″ high, with an opening of 2-1/2″.

The remains of the original broken handle have been filed down but are still visible even after the addition of a replacement handle, made from a single piece of scrolled metal. I particularly like the added flourish at the bottom of the handle.

My cup would have originally had a matching saucer and a loop handle, much like the example below.

JT4

Photo courtesy of Ruby Lane

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3 Responses to “Chinese coffee cup, c.1760”

  1. Cheryl Lynn Bruce says:

    Absolutely lovely!
    To my eye, the second handle is so much more graceful than the original. Its grayish metal plays so nicely with the white of the cup and those cheery blossoms. I believe this is one of my all-time favorites, Andrew.

  2. Gwen Betz says:

    Another wonderful find! Love the new handle also..

  3. Diane says:

    Curious about mend attachment. Was it drilled can it be seen from inside?
    As always lovely and thank you.

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