Have you ever seen a dragon teacup?! I got to daydreaming over this one, and I bet you will too. I’ll tell you all about it below. But first, here’s our original Teacup Tuesday IG post to start us off.
Teacup Tuesday 08 OCT 2019
Wow! How about this exotic demitasse dragon teacup?! I’m just in love with this little guy. Probably because of the books I grew up with, I always thought of dragons as sweet and fuzzy and misunderstood. Then I saw Harry Potter … But this guy looks friendly enough to me! He lives on this lovely tiny cup and saucer from my neighbor’s seemingly inexhaustible collection. Fly on over to the blog for more info – just click the link in my profile, or burn a path over to MANTELandTABLE.com.
Dragon Teacup Tidbits
As you likely gathered, this dragon teacup brings to mind the friendly dragons of my youth. Unlike the mean ones in Harry Potter, this one would be happy to take me on his back. How could you doubt those big blue eyes?
I imagine that he lives in a sparkling sleek black onyx cave. He would decorate it with orchids as exotic as he is, and scent it with rich amber perfume. He would use these little demitasse dragon teacups when he hosted me for tea after our ride.
This whole dragon daydream is based on a book I loved as a kid – Shadow Castle by Marion Cockrell. It’s – miraculously – available at Amazon, in an expanded version from 2016. You can grab it HERE and start in on your own dragon teacup adventure!
I’ve never seen a cup like this before! The pattern feels like actual thick paint, and the outside has an almost matte finish.
In contrast, the interior is so shiny and silky – it’s a textural feast all the way around!
So let’s see who the manufacturer of this lovely dragon teacup was.
Manufacturer’s Info
Hmm – well that’s not so easy! I couldn’t find a single thing on the internet about Nikonix China – handpainted or otherwise! I know that seems unlikely. Maybe I just missed it. So if you have any info on this mark, please let me know. I’m totally curious!
However, I did find out quite a bit about this style of dragon teacup. Collectors call it – aptly enough – Dragonware!
To quote THIS source, “Dragonware is a form of moriage pottery made since the late 19th century. Moriage is a special type of raised decoration used on some Japanese pottery. Sometimes pieces of clay were shaped by hand and applied to the item; sometimes the clay was squeezed from a tube in the way we apply cake frosting.
“Moriage pieces were often unmarked and were known for their highly stylized decorations and gilding. It is still being made.” From my research, I think our cup and saucer date from the 1930-50’s.
For more info on this fascinating decorating method, click HERE.
Dragon Teacup ~ Behind the Scenes
So there I was, walking across the living room holding our dragon teacup. I glanced over and saw the white orchid against the black of the piano, and thought “Aha!” Now, usually the orchid sits on the floor beside the piano, not slap up against it like this. It was just one of those tricks of the brain that had me seeing them actually together.
But once I did, it was easy to wiggle things around a bit. The table, dictionary, and tinder box raised both the cup and the orchid. That way I could have them directly against the black.
I had a little bit of a time with the lighting, but ultimately got what I came for. A daydreamy exotic cave for a beautiful dragon!
Teacup Shopping
If you love teacups as much as I do and want to start or add to your collection, Click HERE for the Shopping Page. Then scroll down and click on the picture of the teacup.
Have a Lovely Teacup Tuesday!
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