Magnolia cup
Unknown Artist
late 18th century
Medium
Porcelain painted in overglaze polychrome enamels (Jingdezhen ware)
Dimensions
H. 1 5/8 in. (4.1 cm); Diam. 3 in. (7.6 cm)
Classification
Ceramics
Culture & Period
China · Qing dynasty (1644–1911), Qianlong period (1736–95)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase by subscription, 1879
Accession Number
79.2.1315
Art Historical Context
This delicate **Magnolia cup**, created by an unknown artist in the 18th century during Qianlong period (1736–95) of China's Qing dynasty (1644–1911), exemplifies the unparalleled craftsmanship of Jingdezhen porcelain. Standing just 1 5/8 inches high and 3 inches in diameter, this petite ceramic vessel was painted in overglaze polychromeels, a technique that applied vibrant, multicolored designs after the initial firing. The result is a luminous surface with finely detailed magnolia motifs, showcasing the translucency and purity for which Jingdezhen ware—China's imperial porcelain capital—was ...