This tea cup has a conical shape with everted gilt-edged rim and a pink footring. The exterior is decorated with various floral motifs including chrysanthemums in pink and white tones. Flying among the flowers is a solitary butterfly with blue wings and green dotted patterns. Butterflies are symbols of joy, romance and beauty. The rim is decorated with a bright yellow border painted with motifs of flowers, possibly the lotus flower, birds and insects. Insects are symbols of fertility and abundance. Such a richly decorated piece of Nonya ware could have been part of the “tok panjang” dinner feast, which refers to the dining at home to celebrate a special occasions such as a person’s 60th birthday. Such a feast could use from a few hundred to a few thousand pieces of Nonya ware, including plates, bowls, spoons and cups among others.
