A CHINESE EXPORT MYTHOLOGICAL TEACUP AND SAUCER circa 1785

each of ogee shape and painted with Zephyr offering a posy to Flora reclining in a glade, the scalloped and barbed rim with a flowering vine border.  Tiny chips.

The collection of J. Campling, Esq., sold, Sotheby's, London, June 21, 1977, lot 88 (a pair)
The Property of a Gentleman, sold, Christie's, London, November 10, 1983, lot 726 (a pair)

San Francisco, Fall Antiques Show, 1995

Gilding nearly completely worn from rim edge of both pieces, saucer with a 3mm chip on the inner edge of the rim at 12 o'clock and another at 1 o'clock.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

An identically decorated lobed oval dish is illustrated by Hervouët and Bruneau, p. 306, no. 13.58, who suggest that the scene represents Zephyr and Flora, rather than Cupid and Psyche or Venus, and who also illustrate as no. 13.59, a plate of circa 1755, with a slightly simplified version of this scene.  A milk jug of circa 1745 with this decoration is illustrated by Howard and Ayers, Vol. I, p. 330, no. 326, who on p. 331 comment that in the British Museum, London, there is a Meissen Hausmaler bowl, circa 1745, painted by Johann Friedrich Metzsch (d. 1766) of Bayreuth (illustrated by Phillips, p. 150, fig. 47 and by W. B. Honey, Dresden China [Troy, New York, 1946], pl. XXVI (c)) with 'Venus and Cupid' in mirror image, but inspired possibly by the same print.

A teabowl with a slightly debased version of the subject en grisaille is illustrated by Litzenburg and Bailey, who suggest that it "could be after an engraving by Benoît Audran I (1661-1721) copying Antoine Coypel (1661-1722)." 

An identical teacup and saucer illustrated by Veiga, p. 130, pl. 103, was in the collection of Jorge Getulio Veiga, sold at Sotheby's in London on October 31, 1989, lot 252; and sold subsequently at Sotheby's in Monte Carlo on February 29, 1992, lot 506.