CUP AND SAUCER, Gold-decorated, Made by Emile Tessier, French Antique, Modern（19th–20th centuries）

This gold-decorated cup, crafted by the renowned 20th-century ceramist Émile Tessier (1887–1971), dates back to the 1920s and 1930s. Its swirling handle, reminiscent of early Bréau cups, is elegantly paired with a body that features a faceted design, lending it a sense of tautness. The pedestal, characterized by the distinctive grandeur of the Empire style, showcases a soft luster akin to candlelight, achieved through a three-time firing process that results in a 24K equivalent luster gold decoration.

While Tessier is celebrated as a master of openwork (ajourage), in this piece he deliberately embraces a solid surface, enhancing the three-dimensionality through a gradient of light. This cup symbolizes the luxurious taste of the bourgeois salons of the late Belle Époque, embodying the concept of "one cup, one bowl" that was highly valued during that era, and can be seen as an homage to the 19th century that Tessier sought to evoke.

Although there are signs of wear due to age and minor losses to the gold decoration, there are no significant damages or restoration marks, and the gold layer remains uniform, indicating an exceptionally good state of preservation. This piece not only adds a touch of gold to any antique ceramics collection but also asserts its unique presence as a minimalist object in contemporary spaces.