Chicken cup in doucai painted enamels. Ming dynasty, Chenghua reign (1465-1487)-China Archive

Image Number: K1B017835N000000000PDC
Dynasty: Ming dynasty
Category: Ceramics
Function: Container
Description:
This instrument is made of a wide mouth, shallow curved walls, shallow circles of feet, and the surface of the instrument is painted with two groups of drawings of chickens and hens. In the picture, the cock and the hen lead the chicks to seek food in the field, the hen lowers her head to peck the insects, and the chicks spread their wings and jump. Even in the tiny picture, it still makes people feel warm and lovely. In addition, the peony, orchid and lake stone in the painting are properly separated from each other by two groups of patterns. The inside of the cup is pure white without ornamentation. On the bottom of the cup is a six character regular script in blue and white calligraphy, “Made in the Year of Chenghua in the Ming Dynasty”. In addition to the recognition, two circles are painted. This is enough to convey the picture of the son and hen in harmony with the emperor, or because of the emperor’s love, it was favored by scholars and scholars. Therefore, at the end of the Ming Dynasty, all people thought that “the chicken jar cup in a kiln is the best wine vessel”. As well as the statement that the Chenghua Chicken Cup was “worth 100000” on the table of Emperor Wanli of the Ming Shenzong, it spread widely.