A PAIR OF DOUCAI 'LOTUS AND MANDARIN DUCK' CUPS MARKS AND PERIOD OF TONGZHI

each with deep rounded sides and a gently everted rim, finely decorated around the exterior with four lotus flowers delicately enamelled in iron-red and divided by mandarin ducks drifting on rippling waters, between a double line border at the rim and petal panels encircling the base, the interior similarly decorated with a lotus pond medallion, the base inscribed in underglaze blue with a six-character reign mark