Cup with Cover
Unknown Artist
19th century
Medium
Tortoise shell
Dimensions
H. 3 1/4 in. (8.3 cm); Diam. 3 3/8 in. (8.6 cm)
Classification
Shell
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
79.2.1379a, b
Art Historical Context
This exquisite *Cup with Cover*, crafted from tortoiseshell in 19th-century China during the Qing dynasty (1644–1), stands as a testament to the era's mastery of natural materials. Measuring just 3¼ inches (8.3 cm) in height and 3⅜ inches (8.6 cm) in diameter, petite scale suggests it was designed for intimate, personal use—perhaps as a snuff cup or tea vessel for elite scholars and officials. Tortoiseshell, sourced from the hawksbill sea turtle, was heated and molded into its graceful form, prized for its warm, translucent glow that mimics jade or amber, evoking the natural world's elegance. ...