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Teacup and Tray

Date1880-1890

MediumMold-formed hard paste porcelain with overglaze green and brown enamel and gilding

DimensionsComponent (height x width including handle x depth of teacup): 2 1/2 x 3 1/4 x 2 1/4in. (6.4 x 8.3 x 5.7cm)
Component (diameter of tray): 7 1/4in. (18.4cm)

Credit LineBequest of George H. Gilman, Jr.

DescriptionSmall, hard paste porcelain teacup (.a) and tray (.b) with hand-painted overglaze enamel in green and brown and gilding. The teacup has gilding at the foot, handle, and shell-edged rim. That same gilded shell-edged rim can be found on the tray, which has a small round indentation to hold the cup to one side. The top of the tray, the outside of the teacup, and the inside of the teacup near the rim all have sprigs of hand-painted green leaves (perhaps ginko leaves?) in green and brown enamel. The leaves were painted by the original owner of the set, Mabel Edith Goodrich Gilman (1867-1959).

Object number1985.14.19a-b

MarkingsOverglaze enamel manufacturer's mark on the bottom of both the teacup and tray, "C F H/ G D M".NotesHistorical Note: A set like this would have been purchased blank with the gilding already applied, and then would have been hand-painted. China painting was a popular pastime, especially around the turn of the twentieth century.

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