Antique Porcelain Demitasse Collection - 12 Pieces- French Limoges and Japanese Handpainted Floral Sets

 I swear I only want to hear about you, to know what you've been doing. It's a hundred years since we've met - it may be another hundred before we meet again.  The Age of Innocence, Edith Wharton  

{HISTORY}

So delicate! This antique collection of petite demitasse cups and saucers dates to the Victorian era.  Made of paper thin porcelain, it is both a miracle and a marvel that they've survived over 100 years and still manage to look so exquisite.

This collection is made of 7 demitasse cups and 5 matching saucers. One cup and saucer (the pink one) is from France, 4 cups and matching saucers are from Japan and the last two cups (cobalt blue swirls) are unmarked. Straight from the hands of a private collector who loved them for their refined character,  there is not much information we know about these little beauties other than their markings on back, which gives them an air of international intrigue.

Each cup and saucer is hand-painted, making each a little bit unique in appearance. Because of their overall complimentary color palettes the two cobalt blue cups that do not have matching saucers, actually blend in quite well with the Japanese saucers. This mix and match style adds visual interest to the table and subtly guides admirers to search out both similarities and differences between the patterns.

So much artistry went into the overall design of each cup and saucer, it is fascinating to compare the subtle details of each piece. Like mini works of art, the porcelain is so thin it is almost transparent, and the hand-painting so precise this collection is a true masterpiece of art and design, of form and function.

{SPECIAL FEATURES}

- Colors include pale pink, gold, cobalt, raspberry, purple, yellow, orange, emerald, ballet pink and spring green

- This collection includes 7 demitasse cups and 5 demitasse saucers

- Marked on bottom with Elite Limoges France markings and unidentified Japanese markings

- Hand-painted

- Porcelain

{CONDITION}

In gorgeous antique condition. No chips or cracks on the bunch, except for one slight chip on the underside of the Japanese saucers and one slight hairline surface crack (does not go all the way through ) on the underside of one of the Japanese saucers near the makers mark.  Please see photos for those details.

{SIZE} 

One Pink Set (French Limoges): Cup measures 2" inches (height) x 2" inches (diameter) and Saucer measures 4.5" inches (diameter)

Three purple and pink floral sets (Japan) : Cups measure 2 1/8" inches (height) x 2" inches (diameter) and Saucer measures 4" inches (diameter)

Two blue swirl cups (unmarked) measure just under 2" inches (height) x just under 2" inches (diameter)