Featured Two more cups

Here are two more cups from the bargain basement. I just bought them out of intrigue and because they are so attractive. One looks like Ridgway chequers and flowers pattern, but the handle is all wrong. The other I was thinking maybe coalport.

 

Cabinet pieces, never meant for use. Very pretty.

 

I have an "off the cuff" question..........What were the tea cups called that if you held them up to the light you could see a figure (head and upper torso....always female) impressed into the bottom, but otherwise, you didn't really see the figure??? I remember my Mom had some.... I never knew what happened to them....just remember they were very pretty....and cool!!!!!!

 

Not sure what the specific name is but they are generally Japanese.

 

Lithopane - the Germans etc made some too with scenes etc. The nekkid ladies were generally Japanese.

 

I remember a childhood neighbor's family had a set that they referred to as "the geisha girl tea set".

 

The pretty girl sets came home with many a GI, sometimes as gifts for Mom. Not sure what they did with the nekkid lady sets.

 

Oh, I wish I had Berthoud's Compendium of Cups. Would find yours or similar there. Anyway, here's a site I haven't visited before, but maybe you have? Bottom cup is London shape. https://danielcc.org/cups.php It's devoted to the H & R Daniel factory, but lots of cup and handle shapes!