Chenghua Period Doucai Lingzhi (Lingzhi Mushroom) Pattern Cup with “Da Ming Chenghua Nian Zhi” Mark (15th Century, Ming Dynasty)

拍品描述

Dimensions: Height 4.5 cm (approximately 1.77 inches, 0.15 feet); mouth diameter 7.5 cm (approximately 2.95 inches, 0.25 feet); 15th century, Ming Dynasty, Chenghua period (1465–1487)Condition & Provenance: Overall well preserved, with a well-balanced form, lustrous glaze, and well-preserved enamels. No obvious chips or hairline cracks are visible. Minor pale yellow traces and expected age-related signs of use are present to the interior. Private collection, New York.Description: Finely potted in the classic bell-shaped form, the cup has a gently flared mouth, delicately rounded sides tapering toward a small, neatly finished foot, and an elegant sense of proportion characteristic of refined Chinese tableware. The interior is left undecorated beneath a smooth, luminous white glaze, providing a restrained visual counterpoint to the colorful exterior. The exterior is decorated in the doucai technique, with the principal designs first outlined in underglaze cobalt blue and subsequently filled with overglaze enamels in iron red, turquoise green, soft yellow, and blue. Red and blue lingzhi forms alternate among curling floral sprays and scrolling leaves, creating a lively yet carefully balanced composition. Fine underglaze-blue lines beneath the rim and above the foot frame the decoration and emphasize the cup’s compact profile. The combination of delicate blue outlines and softly applied enamels gives the decoration the layered visual quality for which doucai porcelain is celebrated. The recessed base is inscribed in underglaze blue within a double square with the six-character mark “Da Ming Chenghua Nian Zhi.” Compact in scale, refined in potting, and richly colored without appearing excessive, the cup combines the auspicious symbolism of lingzhi with the intimate elegance associated with Chinese imperial-style porcelain.

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