Cup

Art Historical Context

This delicate porcelain cup, hailing from China's Qing dynasty (1644–1911), exemplifies the era's mastery of ceramic artistry. Standing just 1 1/2 inches tall with a 2 3/4-inch diameter, its petite scale suggests it was designed for intimate use, perhaps for sipping tea or wine in a refined household. Produced by an unknown artist, the cup features overglaze polychrome enamels—vibrant colors applied atop a fired glaze and then refired at lower temperatures to fuse them seamlessly. This technique, perfected during the Qing period, allowed for rich, enduring hues that brought scenes to life with...