Lusterware Tea Set with Gilded Rims

This is a partial porcelain tea set featuring a distinctive iridescent lusterware finish, likely originating from mid-20th-century Japan. The set consists of multiple teacups and various sized plates (saucers and likely bread-and-butter or dessert plates). Physically, the pieces exhibit a soft yellow exterior glaze contrasted by a pearlescent, 'oil-slick' interior finish that reflects multiple colors when hit by light. Each piece is meticulously accented with gold-toned gilding along the rims and on the handles of the cups, adding a formal elegance to the design. The cups are wide-mouthed with small, angular gilded handles. Significant condition issues are visible, particularly gold loss and 'flea bites' or small chips along the brittle edges of several plates in the stack. Heavy rubbing on the gilded rims suggests frequent use or improper storage over decades. While no specific maker's mark is visible from this angle, the style is highly characteristic of 'Occupied Japan' or mid-century Noritake-style lusterware produced for the export market. The craftsmanship is delicate, featuring thin-walled porcelain that was popular during the Art Deco and post-WWII eras.

Explore similar items and categories: