Beautiful enamelled porcelain mug. The body rises above the slender, flaring foot, ending in a broad, raised rim that mimics the petals of a flower. On both of the sides, there are two small flattened fish handles topped by a small ruyi in relief.

Both the exterior and the interior of the piece are covered with a bright, intense lemon-yellow glaze that serves as a background for the delicate decorations in a beautiful blue colour, as do the handles. A double row of lobed flower petals runs the length of the piece, drawn with a fine line that successively frames images of delicate camellias, lotuses and lingzhi. The interior is decorated in the same way, but ends in a beautiful central flower with six petals. At the base, on a white background, six characters are inscribed within a double blue circle with the mark ' ??????? '.   

Cups of this type are rare. Although their morphology is close to the styles used in the early Ming dynasty, the characteristic yellow colour corresponds to the innovations of the Yongzheng period, thus combining tradition and innovation.   Possible Qing Dynasty (1644 and 1912) 18th Century.

Height: 5.1 cm; Mouth diameter: 7.9 cm; Base diameter: 3.4 cm; Width: 10.2 cm. 

References: 

- Christie's. Important Chinese ceramics and works of art. (30, Nov, 2011) Lot 2939.

- Sotheby's. Important Chinese Art. (19, Sept, 2023) Lot 515.