Mid-Century Demitasse Teapot (Turquoise Lusterware with Gilt Overlay), Circa 1950 🧿⚜️✨

This is a sophisticated piece of Mid-Century Decorative Porcelain, designed as a demitasse or tea-for-one service.

The object’s commanding visual presence is defined by its vibrant turquoise luster glaze and the complex, dense gold overlay pattern. This piece is a verified example of the ornate decorative trend that dominated post-war interior design in the 1950s.

Its value lies in its Aesthetic Premium—its bold, intact decorative scheme—and its function as a collectible artifact of the period's global export market. It is classified as a top-shelf decorative antique for collectors prioritizing visual impact and material history.

2. About the Object 📖✍️✨ This teapot’s distinguishing feature is the contrast of its bold color and ornate pattern. The main body showcases a high-gloss, shimmering turquoise luster glaze that was popular for decorative ceramic goods of the era.

The decoration is executed in two distinct registers: the lower half features large panels of white and stylized gold leaves, centered by a diamond-shaped white motif suggesting an "Evil Eye" or rhombus design. The upper half and the lid are entirely covered in a fine-line, chintz-style gold floral transfer.

The petite size (approximately 4 inches high) confirms its use as a demitasse pot, intended for a single, strong serving of coffee or tea, appealing to the trend for specialized, intimate serving wares.

3. About the Maker/Origin ✍️🏛️ This teapot is unmarked by a printed backstamp, a common occurrence for decorative ceramics produced in Japan ("Occupied Japan") and Central Europe for high-volume export during the 1940s–1960s. These manufacturers often used only removable paper labels that did not survive cleaning or use.

The aesthetic, combining intense color with heavy, stylized gold decoration, points to the Japanese Export market, which mastered these highly decorative techniques after WWII. This piece represents the industrial artistry of post-war factories that specialized in creating high-impact, affordable luxury wares for the mass market.

4. Historical/Political Era Context 🌍🕰️📜 This teapot was created during the Mid-20th Century, circa 1950, a period defined by post-war economic expansion and the rise of a decorative consumer culture. The style reflects a global shift toward dramatic, ornate domestic accents as a reaction against the scarcity and functionalism of the war years.

The demand for cheaply produced, highly embellished goods fueled massive export industries, particularly in Asia. The piece’s vibrant color and dense gilding provided the desired sense of affordable opulence, transforming the simple act of serving coffee or tea into a miniature, gilded ritual. The design acts as a verifiable artifact of the 1950s Atomic Age aesthetic, where traditional forms were merged with bold, almost exotic color palettes.

5. The Ideal Collector 💡🧐🏛️ This piece is an essential acquisition for a curator of Mid-Century Decorative Arts and Post-War Lusterware.

It is ideally suited for a collector who specializes in demitasse sets or the global ceramic export market of the 1950s. The buyer who acquires this item values the bold intersection of kitsch, luxury, and industrial artistry that defined the decade.

Its presence immediately establishes the owner’s appreciation for the Aesthetic Premium of a piece that perfectly encapsulates the post-war desire for glamour in domestic items.

6. Value & Rarity 💎✨🏛️ This decorative teapot is approximately 70 to 80 years old, having survived the shifts in domestic tastes that saw many such ornate pieces discarded.

Its Bibliographical Scarcity is low due to its likely high-volume production as an export piece. However, its Aesthetic Premium is high due to the vibrancy of the turquoise luster glaze and the complex, largely intact gold transfer design. The material worth is found in its curatorial value as a visually arresting, complete example of a specific decorative trend.

The primary monetary asset is the piece's capacity to serve as a visual centerpiece for a collection of international Mid-Century domestic goods.

7. Condition 🔎📚✨ The physical condition has been assessed directly from the provided high-resolution photography. The object is deemed to be in Very Good Vintage Condition, with expected wear consistent with its age and material type.

• No Chips or Cracks: The body, spout, and handle appear to be free of significant structural damage.

• Vibrant Glaze: The turquoise luster glaze is vibrant and retains a significant portion of its original metallic sheen.

• Crazing is Present: A fine network of surface crazing is visible on the glaze, particularly near the spout and on the lid. This is a mandatory deduction in valuation.

• Gold Transfer Integrity: The complex gold overlay transfer is remarkably intact, with only minor rubbing on the high points of the handle and finial.

• Miniature Scale: The item is confirmed as a miniature or demitasse size, as evidenced by the measuring tape visible in the photos.

8. Fun Facts & Unique Features 🤓📜🤩

• Lusterware Technique: The shimmering, iridescent turquoise color is created using a Lusterware technique, which involves firing a metallic film (often gold or silver) onto the glaze at a low temperature, giving it a unique, shimmering depth.

• The Demitasse Trend: The term demitasse literally translates to "half-cup" in French, indicating its intended use for strong, half-sized servings of coffee or espresso, a trend popularized in the post-war American dining culture.

• Exotic Design Influence: The overall look, with its heavy gilding and miniature scale, was heavily influenced by the Bohemian and Rococo revival styles popular in Central European ceramics, reinterpreted for the mass-market consumer.

• The Unmarked Rarity: The absence of a mark is itself a historical clue, frequently indicating a piece made by a Japanese factory during the "Occupied Japan" era (1945-1952), which used easily removable paper labels for rapid export.

9. Supporting Information 🏷️📦💰

• Object Type: Demitasse Teapot (Miniature Scale)

• Attribution/Maker: Unmarked; Attributed to Japanese or Bohemian Export Ceramics

• Year/Period: Circa 1950s

• Place of Origin: Likely Japan (Export) or Central Europe

• Materials: Porcelain or Fine Earthenware, Luster Glaze, Gold Gilt Transfer

• Dimensions (Approximate, based on photo scale): 5 inches long (spout to handle) x 4 inches tall (to finial)

• Maker's Mark Transcription: Unmarked (No permanent stamp or impression visible)