Antique Tea Cup Appraisal

Shofu Marbled Pink and Gold Hand-Painted Tea Cup and Saucer

This is a beautiful vintage tea cup and saucer set featuring a unique marbled pink and gold design, consistent with Shofu china. The set is crafted from porcelain, with the primary color scheme being a soft, muted pink base, heavily accented with rich, shimmering gold detailing. The marbling effect on both the cup and saucer gives the surface a variegated appearance, with lighter and darker swirling patterns of pink, interspersed with occasional hints of a paler, almost off-white hue. The cup has a classic, slightly flared rim and a delicate, C-shaped handle, also highlighted with gold. The exterior of the cup and the inner surface of the saucer are adorned with intricate hand-painted floral or botanical motifs rendered in raised gold paste, showing fine craftsmanship. These designs appear to depict leaves, vines, and possibly small berries or flowers. The saucer is not perfectly round; it has a scalloped or undulating rim, further embellished with a heavily applied gold border, which shows some texture and depth. There is visible wear to some of the gold accents, particularly on the rim of the saucer where some of the gilding has rubbed off, indicating age and use. Small specks or very minor abrasions may also be present on the pink marbled surface, consistent with vintage porcelain. The inner surface of the cup is a clean, uniform off-white porcelain, providing a stark contrast to the ornate exterior. The overall impression is one of delicate elegance and refined artistry, typical of early to mid-20th-century Japanese export porcelain, especially from known manufacturers like Shofu.