This cup and saucer belongs to a group of Canton ware painted in colourful enamels. The decoration, done in the "Mandarin style", depicts five figures on a verandah. Around the gilded floral border are panels ornamented with flower motifs. The ceramic body is believed to have been made at the Jingdezhen kilns and the enamel decoration added on at the city in Guangzhou. The tea set reflects European tastes as most Canton enamel ware was meant for export to the West.Richly enamelled wares, some large and heavily potted, were known as 'Canton famille-rose' wares in Europe, or 'Rose Medallion' in North America. They were much in demand and production continued around 1820 into the 20th century. The term famille rose was coined by Europeans to refer to an enamel palette in which opaque pink is the predominant colour among a palette of colours.
