Antique German Lustre Porcelain Espresso Cup & Saucer Set – Wilhelm Leykauf, c.1890

Some things were made to be used. These were made to be admired — and then used very carefully, with your best tablecloth out and guests who appreciate the finer things.

This is a pair of antique German espresso cups and saucers, hand-painted and signed by Wilhelm Leykauf, a Nuremberg-based artist known for his work in porcelain and glass decoration in the late 19th century. Having his signature on a piece is not a coincidence — it means someone at the time thought this was worth putting his name to. They were right.

The cups are made from thick, heavy-weight porcelain — the kind that feels substantial in the hand and rings like a bell when you tap it. The exterior is finished in a shimmering mother-of-pearl lustre glaze in soft gold and iridescent tones, with bold burgundy stripes running vertically around the lower half. The upper section features a hand-painted Art Nouveau floral motif in raised gold — a hibiscus-style bloom with scrolling tendrils, delicate and confident at the same time. The saucers mirror the design with a diamond-shaped lustre centre panel and radiating burgundy stripe border on a pearlescent ground.

Inside the cup, a partially legible engraved name — a personal touch that adds to the mystery and the story of this piece. Who owned these? Someone with taste, clearly.

• Artist: Wilhelm Leykauf (signed)
• Origin: Germany, circa 1890
• Style: Art Nouveau / Historicism
• Decoration: Hand-painted, mother-of-pearl lustre glaze, raised gold floral motif
• Contents: 2 espresso cups + 2 saucers (complete set)
• Weight: approx. 182 g per cup & saucer
• Condition: Good antique condition with age-appropriate patina; engraved name inside cup

⚠️ WARNING: Serving espresso in these cups will make your coffee taste approximately 40% more sophisticated. Maison de L'oro accepts no responsibility for any sudden desire to install a marble countertop, acquire a moustache, or start referring to your morning coffee as "a moment of reflection." The engraved name inside is not yours — but after a few espressos, you might start to feel like it is.