Very Rare Antique Russian Porcelain Tea Cup and Saucer from the Livadia Palace of Tsar Alexander III

The Livadia palace was the main summer residence of Russian Czars on the Black sea coast in the Crimea.
Porcelain cups and saucers from the Golden service of the Livadia palace are rare.
The service was made at the Imperial Porcelain Factory in St Petersburg during the reigns of Alexander II and Alexander III.
All known coffee cups from that service are marked with the cipher of Alexander II. The tea cups are bearing the cipher of Alexander III. The tea cups are more rare than coffee cups.

This particular cup was formerly in the famous George R. Hann collection. It was sold at Christie’s New York on April 17-18, 1980, Lot 219.
There were 4 tea cups (Alexander III), and 5 coffee cups (Alexander II) in the collection.

Diameter of the saucer 5 3/8 in. (13,7 cm). Height of the cup 2 1/4 in. (5,5 cm).

The cup is painted with the Russian Imperial crown on a Royal blue ground. Wide two-tone gold bands are etched with scrolling foliage.

There is a tiny area of restored gilding below the right gray ribbon.

Green Imperial porcelain factory marks in the form of Tsar Alexander III cipher. The cup is dated (18)86, the saucer – (18)91. Worn gilding on the rim of the cup’s base.