China, late Qing to Republic Period (1900-1950). Lovely and delicate set of four cups with four lids and saucers, glazed in white. The cups with flared rims and no handles, the rim of each dish is mounted with a slim and elegant bronze band. Eggshell porcelain, also called danpi bodiless or tuotai bodiless ware is characterized by an excessively thin body under the glaze. It was introduced in the Ming Dynasty during the reign of the emperor Yongle. Condition: Good condition with some traces of age and use, three lids with slight hairlines cracks, some firing imperfections and small chips, two of the bronze bands are missing. Provenance: Private collection of a German artist and collector living in Southeast Asia. Dimensions: foot diameter cups 3.5 cm, foot diameter plates 6 cm, opening diameter cups 9.5, opening diameter plates 13 cm, cups height 4.7 cm Weight: 732 g