Cup (part of a set)
Unknown Artist
1760–70
Medium
Hard-paste porcelain
Dimensions
Height: 2 5/8 in. (6.7 cm)
Classification
Ceramics-Porcelain-Export
Culture
Chinese, for Danish market
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Helena Woolworth McCann Collection, Gift of Winfield Foundation, 1951
Accession Number
51.86.384
Tags
Art Historical Context
This delicate cup, part of a larger set, exemplifies the artistry of Chinese export porcelain from the 176s, crafted specifically for the Danish market. just 2⅝ inches tall, it was produced in hard-paste porcelain—a durable, translucent medium perfected by Chinese potters centuries before its European imitation. Its petite scale suggests it was designed for intimate table service, blending functionality with luxury. The decoration, featuring portraits of men and women alongside coats of arms, highlights the porcelain's customization for European clients. During the height of global trade in t...