It has been quite a while since I found an old piece of china with beautiful "make do" repair, but then this at a show last week in MA. I love a staple repaired plate, but I love an unusual handle repair more. And with the delicacy of this wire handle enhancing the sense of delicacy of the c. late 18th century Chinese export tea cup, and calling extra attention to the fancy original applied decoration at the base of the handle ends. A beauty of a hand-painted tea cup to begin with too, with pagodas and trees and water and two figures walking across a bridge, and more decoration to the interior around the lip.
2 3/4" t x 2 3/16" d; 3 3/16" across at handle. One hairline crack coming down from top edge of cup on one side and some staining to interior. Stable and sound. I believe there was once gold leaf decoration around the top scalloped edge, mostly worn away.
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