Demitasse Cup and Saucer
Unknown Artist
ca. 1860–66
Medium
Porcelain
Dimensions
Cup: H. 2 in. (5.1 cm) Saucer: Diam. 4 1/4 in. (10.8 cm)
Classification
Demitasse cup and saucer
Culture
Chinese, for American market
Department
The American Wing
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Elizabeth Hazard and Marion H. McVitty, in memory of their mother, Mrs. Lauriston H. Hazard, 1960
Accession Number
60.111.203, .214
Art Historical Context
Nestled in The American Wing of the Metropolitan Museum Art, this delicate *Demitasse Cup anducer* (ca. 1860–66) exemplifies the exquisite porcelain craftsmanship of Chinese artisans tailored for the American market.ed from fine porcelain, the cup stands just 2 inches tall, with a saucer measuring 4¼ inches in diameter—perfectly sized for savoring a small after-dinner coffee, or *demitasse*, a European import that gained popularity in mid-19th-century AmericaProduced during a peak era of Sino-American trade, this piece reflects the global exchange of goods amid the U.S. Civil War years. Chines...