Eggshell porcelain tea cup, saucer and a plate.

 The set features Japanese tits on a blossoming cherry tree. When held up to the light the cup reveals its hidden feature. From the bottom emerges a geisha portrait. The portrait is made in the lithophane technique.

Lithophane is an etched or molded artwork in thin very translucent porcelain that can only be seen clearly when back lit with a light source. A lithophane is a three-dimensional image, which changes its characteristics depending on the light source behind.

Such geisha girl lithophanes were made at the Kutani factory from late 1930s. This technique was employed thanks to tea bags invention. There were no more loose tea leafes on the bottom. Production continued until 1960s.

You can find a similar porcelain set here.