Rare Pouring Cup & Saucer

This is a rare treat - a pouring cup and saucer made by Meissen in the 18th century - pre 1740 probably 1730-35. The theory for this odd shape goes that when coffee drinking was still new to Europe they originally used tall cups and beakers but this shape here is quite rare and seems to have been specially adapted to enable the coffee to be poured into the saucer, presumably to allow the liquid to cool more quickly to a suitable temperature. A common practise back then. The decoration imitates Chinese Batavian ware cups. The cup has a handle to one side and a spout to the opposite side while the saucer has a handle to each side meant to help you lift it to drink from it. Both pieces have a hand painted under glaze blue scene to the center inside and a nice trim to the rim with some flower garlands in between. The scene in the center includes a building, a tree, an island in the background and possibly a guy fishing though that is possibly my imagination. They both have the brown ground color on the outside / underside one rarely sees. All in all an amazing set! The cup and saucer are in excellent condition with a small firing flaw to the very edge of one of the saucer's handles and a tiny rough spot to the underside tip of the same handle. There is color in it so probably also a firing flaw. The bottom edge of teh cup is uneven in terms of the rbown color which is also how it was made. So all in all it is just as it left the factory which is amazing given it's age. The saucer is 1.125 inches tall and 5.125 inches in diameter with the handles sticking out about 1.25 inches. The cup is 2.25 inches tall and 3.125 inches in diameter and 4.375 inches from handle to spout end. Both pieces are marked with the under glaze blue crossed swords mark with a blue painters mark under it. Each has a small circle to the foot ring. Not a number but likely a bossierer's mark. A very unusual and rare set in a unique shape. Please email me for more information or other pictures.