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Chinese Blue & White Lidded Export Cup and Saucer, early 20th Century

Chinese blue and white lidded porcelain cup with double handles and saucer featuring female figures and floral panels. - view 1
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Estimated value

$85 - $220

Rarity

Average(4/10)

Brand

Arita Ware

Era

circa 1890-1925

Origin

🇨🇳 China

Authenticity

Moderate(65%)
147

CHINESE BLUE & WHITE LIDDED EXPORT CUP AND SAUCER, EARLY 20TH CENTURY: IDENTIFICATION

This is a blue and white porcelain lidded cup with double shell-form handles and a matching lobed saucer, featuring underglaze cobalt decoration. The central panels depict 'Long Eliza' figures (meiren) within an architectural landscape, bordered by alternating panels of floral sprays and geometric diaper patterns. The base reveals a single underglaze blue character, likely a potter's mark or shop mark, rather than an imperial reign mark.

Compare with other ceramic pieces in the archive: Chinese Blue and White Porcelain 'Dragon and Phoenix' Charger, Blue and White Phoenix Ewer, Underglaze Blue Floral Bowl bearing Xuande Mark.

PRODUCTION & FIRING

This set is executed in the Kangxi revival style, which became highly popular for the European export market between 1890 and 1920. While the motifs reference the 17th-century Kangxi period (1662-1722), the thicker potting and specific cobalt hue suggest the late Qing Dynasty to early Republic ...
This set is executed in the Kangxi revival style, which became highly popular for the European export market between 1890 and 1920. While the motifs reference the 17th-century Kangxi period (1662-1722), the thicker potting and specific cobalt hue suggest the late Qing Dynasty to early Republic period. These sets were frequently produced in Jingdezhen to satisfy the Western 'Chinamania' demand for traditional Chinese motifs.

COLLECTOR NOTES

1

The single blue character mark on the base, known as a 'hall mark' or workshop signifier, was often used in Jingdezhen during the 1900-1925 period to distinguish production batches for specific exporters.

SCARCITY

Average55-70%
CommonLegendary

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

Rarity 4/10. Curiosa currently catalogues 101 ceramics items at rarity 4 or higher.

Typical Characteristics

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

Confidence Factors

  • Style is a deliberate revival of 17th-century Kangxi motifs
  • Potted weight is characteristic of late 19th/early 20th century production
  • Mark on base is a workshop signifier rather than a dated reign mark
How does authenticity detection work?

CERAMICIST'S ASSESSMENT

Asian Art Specialist

East Asian Art Expert

The visual evidence of construction and the specific execution of the panels provides a high probability of a late 19th to early 20th-century date.

KEY EVIDENCE

  • 1Underglaze cobalt indicates traditional Jingdezhen production methods.
  • 2The lobed saucer and shell handles are diagnostic of late 19th-century export adaptations.
  • 3The 'Lange Lijzen' (Long Eliza) motif is a classic feature of the Kangxi revival style.
  • 4Character mark on the base is consistent with early 20th-century workshop practices.

UNCERTAINTIES

  • •The blue character mark is simplified, suggesting high-volume production rather than artist-signed work.
  • •Potting thickness at the footrim is greater than found on early Qing examples.

WHAT WOULD IMPROVE CERTAINTY

  • →Obtain a high-resolution close-up of the base mark for specific workshop identification.
  • →Check for translucent spots under a strong backlight to confirm porcelain quality.

CONDITION & GRADE

Grading breakdown

Surface wear is consistent with domestic use; small firing flaws on the base are typical for this grade of export ware.

Condition

Small chips or 'fritting' are visible on the footrim and the edges of the lid; the blue pigment shows consistent saturation with no obvious modern digital transfer characteristics.

CERAMICS MARKET VALUE

$85 - $220

Updated: May 10, 2026

Who buys this

Collectors of Chinese export ware and interior decorators seeking classic Chinoiserie aesthetics.

What increases value

  • •Completeness of the set (lid, cup, and saucer included)
  • •Lack of vertical hairline cracks in the body
  • •Clarity of the cobalt blue decoration

What lowers value

  • •Chips to the lid finial or rim
  • •Substantial kiln grit on the interior
  • •Fading or 'scuffing' of the glaze

What makes top-tier examples

  • •Authentic 17th-century Kangxi mark and weight
  • •Uniform deep sapphire blue without gray undertones

Grade & condition

Completeness of components and integrity of the edge glaze.

Rarity & demand

AverageModerate demandModerate liquidity
Browse similar ceramics objects

For informational purposes only, not a formal appraisal.

FROM THE CABINET OF

EL

eline
Wonderseeker•1 item

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