A Chinese blue and white French market covered cup and saucer with Louis IX and his mother, Kangxi

Dia.: 13,6 cm (the saucer)

H 8,7 cm - Dia.: 9 cm (the cup)

Condition: (UV-checked)
- The cup: a small superficial 1 mm chip on the rim, with related ca. 15 mm hairline extending down from the rim just next to it, quasi invisible to the naked eye but showing under UV-light.
- The saucer: a hairline running across the middle, over ca. 90% of the diameter, quasi invisible to the naked eye but showing under UV-light.
- The lid: excellent.

Decorated with the historic subject of the young French king Louis IX with his mother, Blanche of Castille, the border of the tea bowl inscribed 'L'empire de la vertu est etabi jusq'au bout de l'uners' (L'empire de la vertu establi jusqu'au bout de l'universe).

Provenance:

- Ex-collection Luis Alegria Lda, Porto (link).

Ref.:

- Christie's, New York, Chinese export art featuring property from the Tibor collection (online 19271), Jan. 7-20, 2021, lot 4, for a similar cup and saucer (sold USD 4.000, link).