Presented is a lovely set of ten antique Limoges porcelain cups and saucers, likely dating from around 1890 to 1900. The handles are beautifully formed as a bird of prey's head, most likely an eagle, though it may be a hawk or falcon. This is a rare and striking detail, and the birds' heads, along with all the gilding, are really quite attractive.
The cups are entirely gilded on the interior. The cups also feature raised triangular shapes at the widest part of the body, while the saucers feature raised triangular shapes around the edges, all finished in gilding. The raised design was molded into the porcelain first, then gilded over, giving a design that is genuinely raised to the touch, not just visually, against a pure white ground.
Marked on the underside Limoges, France, with the intertwined letters C A, for Charles Ahrenfeldt, along with the mark R B and a fleur de lis, for Richard Briggs of Boston, a large China importer of the period.
Of the ten saucers, nine are perfect, and one has an old staple repair, professionally done. Of the ten cups, four show wear to the gilding on the interior, shown in the photographs.
These are a demitasse size, holding approximately 3 to 4 ounces.
Cup diameter at the rim 3 inches. Height to the top of the eagle's head 4 7/8 inches. Saucer diameter 5 1/2 inches.
