Antique Japanese Satsuma Butterfly Tea Cup, Saucer & Plate – Set of 3

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Description

An elegant and finely detailed Japanese Satsuma tea set comprising a teacup, matching saucer, and dessert plate, all decorated in … Read more An elegant and finely detailed Japanese Satsuma tea set comprising a teacup, matching saucer, and dessert plate, all decorated in a richly patterned millefiori-style ground accented with hand-applied gilt and delicately painted butterflies.

Each piece features an intricate lattice of jewel-toned enamel work—rust, cobalt, celadon, and black—outlined in gold, creating a shimmering, textile-like surface. At the center of each piece, a softly rendered butterfly motif appears to float above the crackled ivory glaze, lending a lightness and refinement to the overall composition.

The forms are graceful and well balanced, with a gently flared cup, finely gilded rims, and a comfortable handle. The reverse of each piece bears a gilt Satsuma-style mark, consistent with early to mid-20th-century Japanese export wares.

This is a striking set whether displayed together in a cabinet, layered on open shelving, or styled on a table as an accent grouping. Sophisticated yet warm, it pairs beautifully with both traditional and modern interiors. See less