Chinese Tea Cup Set (6) with Floral Motif

Six white cups, nested in orange silk, with calligraphy standing guard on either side.

This set of six porcelain tea cups with a floral motif is from China, and dates to the 20th century. Sets of matching cups let a host serve several guests alike, and painted or transfer-printed patterns help the pieces read together as one group. Six plain white cups with a faintly raised floral pattern sit in a line on bright orange satin. The gold-colored box opens flat, with columns of black brushed characters on each panel and a small red seal below.

All the pageantry of a ceremony, at a very small scale.