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Japanese Arita Blue and White 'Long Eliza' Lidded Cup and Saucer

An antique Japanese Arita blue and white porcelain lidded cup and saucer, decorated with a 'Long Eliza' figure and floral patterns. - view 1
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Estimated value

$30 - $60

Rarity

Average(4/10)

Category

Asian Art

Brand

Arita Ware

Era

Meiji Period (c. 1880-1910)

Origin

🇯🇵 Japan

Authenticity

High(80%)
119

JAPANESE ARITA BLUE AND WHITE 'LONG ELIZA' LIDDED CUP AND SAUCER: ORIGINS & SIGNIFICANCE

This is a fine example of Japanese Arita ware, specifically a two-handled lidded cup and its matching octagonal saucer. The underglaze blue decoration is a clear emulation of popular Chinese Kangxi-period export patterns, featuring a standing female figure—often called a 'Long Eliza' or *Lange Lijs* by Dutch traders—within a garden cartouche. The surrounding dense floral and diaper patterns, along with the lobed shape of the saucer, are all characteristic of wares produced for the European market. The form itself, a lidded broth or chocolate cup, is distinctly Western.

EASTERN & WESTERN ECHOES

Where This Object Echoes

Chinese Kangxi Period Porcelain1662-1722

The design directly mimics the popular 'blue and white' export wares from Jingdezhen, China, featuring 'Long Eliza' figures and paneled floral motifs that were highly prized in Europe.

Dutch Delftware17th-18th Century

Dutch potters in the 17th and 18th centuries created their own tin-glazed earthenware versions of Chinese porcelain, often using very similar blue and white decorative schemes.

Ritual & Ceremonial Use

  • •In 18th and 19th-century Europe, such cups were used in the domestic ritual of serving and drinking hot chocolate, broth, or posset, often while receiving guests.

Meaning Through Time

c. 1700 (Chinese Origin)

Symbolized the exoticism and wealth of the owner, who could afford luxurious imported goods from the Far East.

c. 1900 (Japanese Production)

Represented Japan's industrial and artistic prowess, successfully competing in Western markets by adapting traditional aesthetics for mass export.

Present Day

Valued as an accessible antique decorative item, appreciated for its historical 'chinoiserie'-style charm and craftsmanship.

EASTERN PROVENANCE

Produced during Japan's Meiji period (1868-1912), this set represents a significant moment in global trade. After Japan opened its borders in the mid-19th century, its kilns, particularly in the Arita region, began competing directly with China for the lucrative European porcelain market. ...
Produced during Japan's Meiji period (1868-1912), this set represents a significant moment in global trade. After Japan opened its borders in the mid-19th century, its kilns, particularly in the Arita region, began competing directly with China for the lucrative European porcelain market. Craftsmen skillfully adapted and reinterpreted successful Chinese designs to appeal to Western tastes. This cup is not a Chinese original, but an authentic Japanese antique that tells the story of aesthetic exchange and commercial competition between East Asia and Europe.

EASTERN FOOTNOTES

1

The female figures depicted are called 'Lange Lijzen' or 'Long Elizas,' a Dutch nickname for the slender ladies often painted on Chinese Kangxi porcelain.

2

This cup shape, with two handles and a lid, was popular in 18th-century Europe for serving hot chocolate, then a luxurious and fashionable beverage.

HOW SCARCE IS IT?

Average55-70%
CommonLegendary

Typical antique shop fare. Requires some searching but regularly available. This is where most genuine antiques fall.

Typical Characteristics

  • Standard antique shop items
  • Regularly available
  • Moderate collector interest

Confidence Factors

  • This type of Meiji-era export ware is common and widely documented.
  • The style and transfer-print technique are consistent with late 19th/early 20th-century production.
  • The piece is not trying to be a high-value early Chinese piece; it is authentic to its own period.
How does authenticity detection work?

ASIAN ART SCHOLAR'S TAKE

Asian Art Specialist

East Asian Art Expert

Confidence is high because the form, transfer-printed decoration, 'Long Eliza' motif, and the 'yama' mark on the base are all classic, converging indicators of Japanese export porcelain made during the Meiji period for the Western market.

KEY EVIDENCE

  • 1The porcelain body, glaze, and character of the underglaze blue are typical of Japanese Arita ware.
  • 2The mark on the base is a stylized Japanese 'yama' (mountain) symbol, a known kiln mark from the Arita region.
  • 3The decoration is transfer-printed, a mass-production technique widely used in the Meiji period.
  • 4The design is a pastiche of Chinese Kangxi 'Long Eliza' patterns, a common practice for Japanese export wares targeting the European market.
  • 5The form, a two-handled lidded cup and saucer, is a European shape intended for serving hot chocolate or broth.

UNCERTAINTIES

  • •The images show multiple pieces; the value depends heavily on the size and completeness of the entire set, which is not fully visible.

WHAT WOULD IMPROVE CERTAINTY

  • →Catalog all pieces in the set to determine its completeness (e.g., number of cups, saucers, teapot, creamer, sugar bowl).
  • →Examine each piece carefully under bright light for any hairline cracks, chips, or repairs, especially around handles and rims.
  • →Compare the mark to known examples of 'yama' marks from Arita to potentially narrow down the kiln or period.

CONDITION & GRADE

Condition

The set appears to be in very good antique condition, consistent with the user's description of 'minor wear.' The footrim shows slight shelf wear, but I see no obvious chips, cracks, or repairs in the images provided.

Surface

The piece has a glossy, slightly uneven glaze over a transfer-printed underglaze cobalt blue. The blue shows some characteristic minor 'bleeding' into the white porcelain body, and the finial has a dark, almost black glaze.

Weight & feel

Likely feels delicate but solid, typical of well-made hard-paste porcelain. Not overly heavy or clunky.

ASIAN ART VALUATION

$30 - $60

Updated: Feb 27, 2026

  • Market comparables from auctions & retail
  • Condition, completeness & craftsmanship
  • Current collector demand & trends
  • Low = quick sale, high = patient seller

For informational purposes only, not a formal appraisal.

CONTEXT ANALYSIS

How your provided context compares with Curiosa.com scanner findings.

What Aligned

  • The user's assessment of 'Original/Authentic' and 'Minor wear' aligns with the visual evidence of a well-preserved, genuine antique from the late 19th to early 20th century.

FROM THE CABINET OF

EL

eline
Wonderseeker•1 item

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