Right, let's talk about this. Royal Bonn, circa 1880, hand-painted in the most exquisite Japonisme style — swooping birds, delicate botanicals, a magnificent owl staring back at you from a teacup like he owns the place. Because honestly? He does. Each piece is unique, each bird different, each brushstroke placed by an actual human hand over 140 years ago. The thick gilded painted rims and accents add a whole other layer of drama. This is not a tea service. This is a statement.
Now, full transparency because we believe in honesty: the tray has a crack with an antique staple repair — the kind of repair that was done properly, by someone who cared, probably in the late 19th century. The tray handle has been restored, not perfectly, but authentically. One cup is missing. And yet — this set has clearly spent its entire life being admired rather than used, and it shows. The hand-painting is extraordinary.
Sold as a complete set only. This is a collector's piece, a conversation piece, and quite possibly the most interesting thing in whatever room you put it in.
What's included:
Tray — 48 × 33.5 cm, 1,700 g — hand-painted Japonisme botanical design, antique staple repair to crack, handle imperfectly restored
Teapot — 22.5 × 10.5 × 12.5 cm, 560 g — gilded painted lid rim
Sugar Bowl — 14 × 8.5 × 10 cm, 350 g — gilded painted lid rim
Milk Jug — 10 × 8 × 5 cm, 180 g
3 × Cup & Saucer sets — cup 10 × 8 × 5 cm (202 g), saucer 13 cm Ø (124 g) — each with a different hand-painted bird incl. owl
1 × Loose saucer — 13 cm Ø (matching, cup missing)
Brand: Royal Bonn (Franz Anton Mehlem, est. 1755)
Made in: Bonn, Germany
Era: c.1880
Style: Japonisme — hand-painted birds, owl, botanicals with thick gilded painted accents and rims
Sold: As complete set only
Condition: Antique — tray has staple-repaired crack and imperfectly restored handle; 1 cup missing. See all photos for full condition details.
WARNING: The owl on that teacup will judge every single beverage choice you make for the rest of your life. Maison de L'oro accepts no responsibility for any subsequent feeling of being watched, or for the very real possibility that this set becomes the most-talked-about thing in your home within 24 hours of arrival.
