Vintage Nippon-Style Hand-Painted Teacup & Saucer – Cobalt Rim, Eggshell Porcelain

Experience the timeless luxury of eggshell porcelain and afternoon tea with this vintage hand-painted teacup and saucer set. Gold flourishes shimmer around delicate flowers. The scalloped cobalt rim casts a shadow through the semi-translucent porcelain.

The style, a few ash spots, and the unfinished area in the glaze hint at the true age and origin of this unmarked Nippon-style piece. It's likely Victorian and made before U.S. country-of-origin marking laws. I believe it dates to the late 1870s-early 1880s.  (See Harran’s third volume for a more ornate example with the same rim and similar floral details.)

As you can see from the close-up photos, this is a hand-painted set. There are a few wear mark. Both pieces are chip and crack free. As shown in the photos, an approximately 1-inch line on the back is missing glaze. With older pieces, the backs where often not as finely finished as the front, so this is pretty typical. (Putting the time and effort into fully finishing a side no one will see is a modern factory thing.) 

Whether you're an avid collector or simply enjoy weekend tea, consider adding this delicate vintage teacup and saucer to your collection.

Condition: Used. No cracks, chips, or crazing. There is some glaze missing on the back of the saucer, a manufacturing defect. See photos for more details.

Care: Hand wash only with a soft (not scrubby) cloth. Towel dry gently.