This Meiji Period porcelain reflects the late 19th century influence of European ceramic, as seen in the cup’s handle. At the same time, the asymmetrical use of the saucer reveals a more Japanese style. It is a symbol of the adjustment from the traditional to the initial development of a culture of mass consumption in Japan; an object designed for a wide public, and sold at arts and crafts fairs for collectors, merchants and foreign travelers.
A shell-shaped saucer holds the cup on one of its edges, leaving a small space to perhaps place something to eat.
The colors red and black are predominate in this enameled cup and saucer set, decorated with paintings of human figures in a bamboo forest.