Cup
Unknown Artist
Medium
Porcelain
Dimensions
H. 1 5/8 in. (4.1 cm); Diam. at mouth 2 5/8 in. (6.7 cm)
Classification
Ceramics
Culture & Period
China · Ming dynasty (1368–1644), Jiajing period (1522–66)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Robert West, 1950
Accession Number
50.221.37
Tags
Art Historical Context
This delicate porcelain cup, crafted in China during the Ming dynasty's Jiajing period (1522–66), exemplifies the era's unparalleled mastery of ceramics. Standing just 1 5/8 inches tall with a mouth diameter of 2 5/8 inches, it was likely designed for intimate use—perhaps sipping tea or wine among the elite. Ming porcelain from kilns like those in Jingdezhen represented the pinnacle of technical innovation, using fine kaolin clay fired at high temperatures to achieve a translucent, resonant body prized worldwide. Adorned with dragons—a recurring motif tagged here—the cup carries profound impe...