Mid-19th Century Ceramic Cup and Saucer Set in Blue and White Kakiemon Style

This is a charming and unusual example of a cup and saucer set in a Japanese-inspired design, maker unknown, but probably dating to the mid-19th century.

The cup has an ornamental scalloped rim with a gilded edge, which is slightly everted. The body is rounded and sits on a pedestal-type foot. The handle sweeps up above the rim, with a moulded acanthus thumb rest. This is gilded down the edge. The form is reminiscent of the Coalport ‘No. 7’ shape.

The interior of the cup is moulded below the rim with a scrolled motif, although this is only faintly visible. It is transfer-printed with a stylised Japanese-inspired design consisting of trees in blossom, with a tiger climbing in one. This type of design is often referred to as ‘Kakiemon’ style, as it was used on earlier Kakiemon wares. The exterior of the cup is decorated with branches of blossom.

The underside of the cup is galleried and unmarked.

The saucer has the same upturned, scalloped rim, with a gilded edge. There is the same moulded scrolling motif around the interior, and it is also printed with the tiger and blossom motif in blue.

The underside of the saucer has a short, galleried rim and is unmarked.

The cup has a maximum height of approximately 6.5cm and a height to the rim of 5.3cm. It has a diameter across the rim of about 10.7cm and across the foot of about 5.6cm. The saucer has a diameter across the rim of about 15.0cm.

The cup has a liquid capacity (to the brim) of 200ml.

They have an unwrapped weight of 290g.

They are in excellent condition, with no chips or cracks, although there are some wear and tear scratches to the saucer and some wear to the gilding on the rim of both items, which are commensurate with use.