A Chinese blue and white cup & saucer

Both decorated with the subject " Charity", is represented by a nursing woman in voluminous robes with two boys, one holding her hand and the other with a stick, overshadowed by two tall growing aster like flowers on which outsized birds are perched and with flying insects. The narrow border displays fronds or peacock feather punctuated by five eyes. There are flower sprays inside the cup and on the outside of the saucer. Mark on the bottom: a floral rosette.

Somewhat unusual ware as regards both material and decorative subject-matter. The border pattern and the very symmetrical design with its oversized perching birds invites comparison with the pieces bearing the so-called Cuckoo on the House design, well-known in Dutch collections ( Lunsingh Scheurleer, pl 147).