Ming Chenghua Period Doucai Chicken Cup

拍品描述

Dimensions: Height 3.2 cm, Diameter 8.2 cm. Condition and Provenance: Complete and intact, without cracks or damage. The glaze and enamel are well-preserved, exhibiting a natural and rustic patina. An ancient patina is present on the unglazed foot rim. No modern restoration or chemical cleaning has been performed. From the private collection of T.W. in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. Acquired in 2020, it has been passed down through generations and has always been kept in a temperature- and humidity-controlled warehouse, never appearing in public auctions or museum exhibitions. Description: This is a famous doucai (enamel overglaze enamel) chicken-shaped cup from the Chenghua period of the Ming Dynasty, once used as a court wine vessel. The cup has a wide mouth, a shallowly curved body, and a concave base, with an exquisite and delicate shape and extremely thin porcelain body. Two delicate underglaze blue lines adorn the outer rim, and the inner wall is covered with a smooth, milky-white glaze. The exterior of the cup is decorated with the famous doucai chicken motif. The rooster, with its bright red comb and magnificent feathers, stands proudly; the hen leads her lively chicks, foraging among rocks, orchids, and bushes. All designs are outlined in underglaze blue and filled with red, green, yellow, and brownish-black enamel. The soft cobalt blue tones and delicate enamel colors create a vibrant pastoral scene. The base of the cup bears a six-character reign mark within a blue square: "Made in the Chenghua Year of the Great Ming Dynasty." This chicken-shaped cup is one of China's most renowned imperial porcelains, highly prized since the late Ming Dynasty. Extant examples are extremely rare, possessing both exquisite craftsmanship and captivating subject matter, making it exceptionally valuable artistically, historically, and as a collector's item.

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