Cup and saucer - Porcelain

Yellow Ground Famille Rose “Hundred Butterflies” Tea Cup

Dimensions:
Rim diameter: 6.3 cm

Condition:
In overall excellent condition, with natural wear consistent with age and use.

Description:
This small tea cup is decorated with a bright imperial-yellow ground, over which finely painted famille rose butterflies serve as the main motif. The butterflies are depicted in various poses, some shown frontally, others in profile, some ascending or descending, each rendered with lively movement and distinct character. The brushwork is concise yet expressive, and the enamels are richly colored without appearing crowded, creating a vibrant scene reminiscent of butterflies dancing in a spring garden. In traditional symbolism, butterflies also convey wishes for longevity.

Inside the foot ring, the base bears a four-character iron red mark reading “Tongzhi Nian Zhi” (“Made during the Tongzhi reign”). Due to its petite size, this type of vessel would likely have been used as a tea cup in the Qing imperial court. A related design, titled “Yellow Ground Hundred Butterflies Bowl Pattern,” is preserved in the collection of the Palace Museum in Beijing. An inscription on the upper right of that design notes: “Follow this sample: forty large bowls… twenty tea cups,” which serves as a useful point of reference.

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