Cup (from a set of eight)
Unknown Artist
late 18th–first half of the 19th century
Medium
Porcelain with iron-red glaze, painted in overglaze polychrome enamels
Dimensions
H. 7/8 in. (2.2 cm); Diam. 2 1/4 in. (5.7 cm)
Classification
Ceramics
Culture & Period
China · Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase by subscription, 1879
Accession Number
79.2.923
Tags
Art Historical Context
This delicate porcelain cup, part of a set of eight from China's Qing dynasty (16441911), exemplifies the's mastery of ceramics during its late 18th to early 19th-century peak. Standing just 7/8 inch tall with a 2 1/4-inch diameter its miniature scale suggests it was designed for intimate rituals, perhaps tea ceremonies or elite banquets, where such sets symbolized refinement and abundance. Crafted with an iron-red glaze base and adorned in overglaze polychrome enamels, the cup showcases advanced techniques that allowed vibrant, multi-colored floral motifs—evident in its tagging—to bloom with...