Eggshell Porcelain | Golden Dragonware | Teacup & Saucer | Japanese Moriage c.1940

In England we have silverware, earthenware, and of course, chinaware. In Asia they have Dragonware, which sounds much more exciting.

It refers to a particular type of ceramics emblazoned with a large dragon curled round the piece, (let's say a teacup hypothetically), on eggshell porcelain (for example!).

That dragon is often painted in relief with dots of luscious thick multicoloured enamels or thin string lines of coloured clay, built up coat after coat to give a 3D effect (otherwise known as a technique called moriage).

In this listing gold gilt decorates white eggshell. Hand-applied high-relief moriage in yellow, defines the dragon's outline, his scales and also some zigzags of fire. The yellow fine line is used abundantly, but in just three areas, a sparing dash of green moriage across the dragon's spine, adds balance & contrast.

These are very beautiful cups, large enough for a fairly good cup of tea...and yet that hardly matters. Some objects exist to be collected and adored, and this is one of them.