Pair of Chinese Longevity Tea Cups (Wan Shou Wu Jiang), Yellow

A pair of small porcelain tea cups decorated in the classic Chinese longevity pattern. Each cup has a sunny yellow band painted with purple lotus-style blossoms and curling scrollwork, and a rainbow Greek-key border runs around the rim. Four white roundels carry the red characters 萬 壽 無 疆 (wàn shòu wú jiāng). The insides and the rounded feet are clean white porcelain. They're just the right size for Chinese or green tea, sake, or a little dipping sauce, and the two cups nest neatly together. The enamels are bright, with no chips. Sold as a pair.

萬壽無疆 means "boundless longevity", or more poetically, "may you have ten thousand years of life without end". The phrase comes from the ancient Book of Songs, where it was a toast raised in the royal court. Until the end of imperial China it was reserved for the birthdays of emperors and empresses, and yellow-ground bowls bearing these four characters were made for imperial celebrations. Today the pattern is a much-loved everyday classic in Chinese homes and restaurants around the world.