*A CHINESE EXPORT PORCELAIN TEA CUP AND SAUCER PROPERTY FROM AN IMPORTANT EUROPEAN PRIVATE COLLECTION China, dated 1264 AH (1848) Comprising a rounded tea cup, on a circular straight foot, the base flared, with squared thumb-rest to the side, the white porcelain body painted with overgalze copper red, cobalt blue and gold enamels, the palette reminiscent of Japanese imariwares, the exterior decorated with red-bordered cartouches filled with golden bouquets and rosettes against a cobalt blue ground with golden stars, the interior characterised by a reverse inscription in Arabic characters against blue ground, a red and gold cross-hatched fretwork band below the rim, 12cm diam. and 7cm high; the saucer similar, 16cm diam. Inscription: By order of Mojtahed Al Zaman, 1264.