A pair of Imperial Japanese blue and white tea bowls, Meiji period (1868-1912), the finely potted porcelain teabowls of graduated size, decorated with the sixteen petal Imperial 'Kikumon' interspersed with butterflies and bamboo leaves. Manufactured by the Tsuji Hitachi kiln by order to the Japanese Imperial household, the larger bowl 5.25 cm high, 10.25 cm diameter.