This antique early 20th century Royal Vienna gilded cobalt blue porcelain demitasse cup and saucer set features the hand painted image of a shepherdess seated on a rock who is inscribing a name on the trunk of a tree. The neoclassical image is encircled by a series of raised gilt beads and flanked by large ornate gilt scrolls and flowers along with small white beaded enamel accents. The image has been signed at the lower right "C Heer" after well known 18th c Royal Vienna artist Johann Claudius Heer. The surface of the saucer is finished in cobalt blue and also bears ornate gilded decoration along with white enamel beads.

The image on the cup references a character from Italian poet Torquato Tasso's 16th century work Gerusalemme Liberata, 'Jerusalem Delivered'. The shepherdess is actually Saracen princess Erminia who is masquerading as a peasant. Erminia pines for Christian knight Tancred as she carves his name into the wood.

The porcelain cup and saucer are in very good condition with no chips, cracks or repairs. As an antique set, the items show signs of age consisting of slight wear to the gilding and a missing enamel bead on the saucer, both of which are mentioned for accuracy. The bottom of the cup and saucer bear a cobalt blue Bidenschild mark (generally known as the "beehive" mark). The saucer also has numbers impressed beneath the glaze.

The cup stands 2" tall and is 2" across the rim. The saucer is 4.25" across and .5" tall.

This gilded porcelain demitasse cup and saucer display beautifully and would be a fantastic addition to an existing collection of Royal Vienna pieces, or works equally well as a stand alone decorative accent. An elegant antique find!