Tea service (2) - Bone china

18th Century Chinese Export Porcelain Tea Bowl & Saucer – Qing / Qianlong Period – Blue & White

A charming and highly decorative Chinese export porcelain tea bowl with matching saucer, dating from the 18th century, most probably the Qianlong period (1736–1795), circa 1750–1780. Both pieces are finely hand-painted in underglaze cobalt blue with an elegant Chinese river landscape. The decoration shows mountains, pagodas and pavilions, boats, a bridge and stylised vegetation, surrounded on the saucer by an elaborate floral and scrollwork border. This type of porcelain was produced in China, most likely at Jingdezhen, specifically for export to Europe during the flourishing China trade of the 18th century.

According to its provenance, the set comes from an English country house, where it had apparently been preserved for generations. It is therefore believed to have reached Great Britain already during the 18th century, which would be entirely consistent with its original function as Chinese export porcelain for the European market. The small handleless tea bowl is particularly characteristic of 18th-century tea drinking, before handled cups became dominant in Europe.

Dating: circa 1750–1780
Period: Qing Dynasty, probably quianlong
Origin: China, probably Jingdezhen
Material: hard-paste porcelain
Decoration: hand-painted underglaze blue

Provenance: from an English country house; believed to have been in Britain since the 18th century
Condition

Considering its age of approximately 250 years, the set is in attractive antique condition. There are small flea-bite chips to the rims of both the saucer and tea bowl, consistent with age and use. Please study the photographs carefully, as they form an important part of the condition description.
A beautiful and atmospheric survivor of the 18th-century European China trade, combining genuine Chinese craftsmanship with a long British provenance.