Enameled glass tea cup, China, Qing dynasty

Seal at the base of four Qianlong characters 乾隆年製 done in blue enamel and surrounded by a double square. 

Milky white enameled glass. It is decorated with cartouches, made in gold, in the shape of petals reminiscent of the lotus flower. They have inside scenes, lotus petals and spirals intertwined in blue as borders. The scenes realistically show branches of different trees: pomegranate with fruit and blossom, cherry with a bird, peaches with flowers and chrysanthemums with a bird. All these trees, and especially their fruits and flowers, have a symbolic meaning such as: prosperity, strength, immortality and wisdom.

Height: 6.80 cm; Mouth diameter: 6.30 cm; Weight: 181 g