A Chinese powder blue and gilt 'Magpie (black bird)' porcelain cup and saucer dish. China, Republic period (1912–1949, 中華民國), early 20th century, approx. 1920-30. Rare item, due to powder blue and gilt decor! Bowl well potted with everted rim, supported on a short tapering foot. Decorated to the exterior with two leaf-shaped cartouches: one with pink flowers and foliage in tones of green, other with a single pink flower, magpie bird, fruits (peaches?) and foliage, all reserved on a powder-blue ground with a gilt decor of honeycomb pattern and flowers. The interior not decorated. Inscribed to the base with iron red four-character mark. Saucer dish with similar decor to the interior, but not marked. References: - photos from a blog describing 20th c. Chinese porcelain, article about Shanghai Department Stores porcelain (先施; 永安; 新新; 大新), three print-screens; - last picture depicting virtually same shaped cup and saucer, but with more simple decor, sold on Catawiki in Sep 2020. Considering above, similar shaped cups and saucers were produced around 1920-30 for famous department stores in Shanghai and Beijing. One with powder blue and gilt decoration is particularly rare, I could not find a similar example. Daylight pictures included. Dimensions: total height (cup and saucer) – c. 7,5 cm; height of the cup - 6,0 cm; diameter of the cup – 10,4 cm; diameter of the saucer - 10,4 cm. Provenance: private collection, Manchester, UK. Conditions report: - saucer dish in excellent condition, no damages visible; - cup with hardly visible hairline from the top-rim and tiny chip to the top-rim; - both: minimal wear to the painted decor, particularly gilding. Minor firing faults and use-related scratches to the glaze. Strong white light tested. Check pictures for details. Worldwide delivery with online tracking.