Pair Of "café-au-lait" Cups And Saucers In Chinese Imari Porcelain – Qianlong Period

Pair of Chinese Imari café-au-lait cups and saucers – Qianlong period (circa 1740–1770)

A rare and refined pair of Chinese export porcelain café-au-lait cups with their matching saucers, decorated in the Imari palette of underglaze cobalt blue, iron red and gilt highlights.
The central motif depicts a flower basket surrounded by butterflies and insects, finely painted within a scalloped Imari border. The exterior is covered with a distinctive chocolate-brown glaze, typical of Chinese Imari wares made for the European market.

These handle-less cups are in the true 18th-century café-au-lait size, produced specifically for coffee with milk.

Dimensions:

• Saucers: diameter 11.4 cm

• Cups: diameter 7 cm; height 3.8 cm

Condition:
Excellent, pristine condition. No chips, cracks or restorations. Gilding well preserved.
The two sets form a very well-matched original pair.

Period:
Qing dynasty, Qianlong reign, circa 1740–1770.