Dimensions: Height 6,7 cm Wide 8,1 cm Depth 8,1 cm

Weight: 116 grams

A Famille-Rose Porcelain Cup with Plum Blossoms and Birds
China, Qing Dynasty, Guangxu Mark and Period (1875–1908)

Finely potted with thin, even walls and a slightly everted lip, this delicate cup is masterfully decorated in the famille-rose palette with a continuous scene of swallows in flight among blooming plum blossoms. The pink blossoms are delicately shaded with touches of white and green enamels, outlined in gilt, and set against twisting branches painted in iron brown and gold. The lively birds, their wings fully extended, are rendered in black, brown, and white with gilded beaks, lending a dynamic sense of movement to the piece.

Both the rim and foot are gilt, enhancing the luxurious quality of the porcelain. The interior is left undecorated, glazed in pale celadon. The recessed base bears a six-character underglaze blue reign mark reading "大清光绪年制" (Da Qing Guangxu Nian Zhi) — "Made in the Guangxu reign of the Great Qing."

Excellent, with minimal surface wear and minor rubbing to the gilt rim.

The motif of plum blossoms and birds (花鸟图) was popular in Qing decorative arts, symbolizing resilience and the coming of spring. This refined example reflects the high standards of imperial porcelain production during the Guangxu reign and the enduring popularity of the famille-rose palette developed in the 18th century.