Commenting is deactivated.

Please post all new topics and queries to the
Discussion Forum

Phoenix Blue and White Cup

by Vickie Costello
(Oceanside, CA.)

Bird and longest crack

Bird and longest crack

I bought this cup almost 12 years ago in the midwest at an old antique shop that was in a old bowling alley. I haven't done much research on it. Of course I am hoping that it is an antique. I will leave the pics and let you have a say. I believe that the bird on it is a Phoenix. Looks like maybe a Greek key pattern around the top and bottom? I am not all certain of the folige pattern on it. The pattern is a transfer, you can see that it continues around the bottom edge. I tried to load a close-up so that the concentric rings on the outside of the cup were visible. Also there are 2 cracks almost opposite of each other. One is quite a bit longer than the other. 2.25" H x 2.75" W. at the mouth.
I have other pics if they are needed. I have these pictures 1200 px on the L side.

Comments for Phoenix Blue and White Cup

Click here to add your own comments

Mar 21, 2011
 Thank you Peter
by: Vickie

Well of course I am disappointed that I can't retire on this one. Thanks for the quick reply and the information. I can look in other directions.
I want to say that I really appreciate your website and your knowledge on the items. I wish there were more sites like yours. It is good to be able to get feedback and knowledge from other viewers. Hopefully someone will see it and know of it birth place. Thanks again.
Vickie C.
Mar 18, 2011
 cup
by: peter

Hello,
Looks indeed Chinese on the surface, but I doubt it is despite the seemingly Chinese looking decoration. If it were Chinese, then it cannot be antique. It could be vintage at the most.

I suspect that it could be a Japanese imitation of Chinese patterns or European chinoiserie. The reasoning with this is that this shape is rather rare in Chinese porcelain.
Then, it seems to be transfer printed, which the Japanese and Europeans also started doing much earlier. Chinese transfer printing didn't take off until far into the 20th century, as far as I know. Then, something else that is not looking Chinese at all is the bottom.

The bird or phoenix is also not looking very Chinese, and the decoration band at the bottom has normally proportions where the width is much narrower. In this respect I would think it could as well be European chinoiserie.

Click here to add your own comments

Return to Ask a question or contribute - archived 2011.

search by keyword