Chinese 18th century porcelain coffee cups

2 Chinese 18th century  porcelain  coffee cups.

2 more views.                                                                                                          

Chinese tea bowls, 18th century

18th century porcelain Chinese tea bowl decorated in enamel colours with  bird and flowers

1. 18th century  Chinese blue and white tea bowl, view of base showing painter's or Emperor's mark.

2. Side view same tea bowl showing dragon.

3. Inside same tea bowl showing the exquisite painting of the dragon's head.

Tea bowls were an essential part of the  18th century tea drinking culture in England. They were first introduced into the country as ships ballast from China. Tea became the ultra fashionable drink of the period and soon the English potteries copied the Chinese and started to make and sell tea bowls themselves. The Chinese answered this competition with their own tea bowls decorated in the English/European style. The price of tea was at a premium, and only the rich indulged, it was kept in small locked tea caddies and  the head of the household held the key!

Chinese 19th century painting on rice paper

This is a small 19th century Chinese watercolour painting on ricepaper painted in the Western style. These fragile paintings are always exquisitely executed, subjects ranging from natural history, land/ seascape etc.

Chinese year of the rabbit!

Congratulations! This year the Chinese celebrate their Year of the Rabbit.
A child  born during the year of the rabbit is one of the most fortunate of the 12 animal signs, and will have a sweet disposition.
Rabbit people are extremely lucky in business and monetary transactions, they make ideal diplomats or politicians, but don't like a competitive or aggressive environment.
A rabbit person has grace, culture, and beautiful manners,  and they pay attention to  everything  from colour, design, and furniture to food and conversation. They are sweet, romantic, and faithful too.
Their lucky numbers include 1 3 5 9 15 19 35,  their element is wood, colour green, and their direction is East.       Good luck to all Chinese  rabbits this year!

Chinese 18th century tankard

This is an 18th century Chinese porcelain tankard, about 6" high,  painted in polychrome, of the Qianlong period 1736 - 1795. It was made for export, probably for the English market,  for drinking beer.

Chinese antique chess pieces

Three finely and intricately carved 19th century Chinese chess pieces, in natural and red stained ivory,  measuring from 4 to 8 inches high.

Chinese coffee cup

Chinese 18th century porcelain  coffee cup, of the Qianlong period 1736 - 1795.  Painted in grisaille with European decoration, the European style figures probably taken from an earlier engraving.