Chikaramachi Japanese Hand-Painted Tea Cup & Saucer Set of 5, circa 1920

In Japan in the 1920s, someone sat down with a brush, a cup, and an awful lot of patience, and painted tiny blue botanical sprigs on five cups and five saucers. One by one. By hand. We'd like to think they were listening to something pleasant. The result, in any case, is rather lovely.

This charming set of five Chikaramachi teacups and saucers is decorated with a delicate hand-painted design of small blue stylised grass or bamboo sprigs scattered across a soft cream-white ground, with a fine gold rim running around the edge of each piece. The cups are wide and gently curved with a neat loop handle — the kind that rewards a properly held little finger. The saucers are generously wide with a concentric ring detail on the rim.

Marked on the base with the distinctive red Chikaramachi stamp under a domed crest — a well-known Japanese export mark from the early 20th century, made for the Western market. All five cups and saucers present and matching.

• Set of 5 cups with saucers
• Hand-painted blue botanical sprigs, gold rim
• Cream white ground, wide curved cup form
• Weight: approx. 155g per cup and saucer
• Marked: Chikaramachi (Japanese export porcelain)
• Circa 1920, Japan
• Condition: good vintage condition consistent with age

WARNING: Drinking tea from these cups will make you feel significantly more composed than you actually are. Maison de L'oro accepts no responsibility for any sudden opinions about the correct steeping time for Darjeeling, the acquisition of a cake stand, or a creeping suspicion that you should own more linen.