A rare doucai 'Chicken' cup, Ming dynasty, six character mark and period of Chenghua (1465-87).
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With steep rounded sides and slightly flaring rim, the exterior painted and enamelled with cockerels and hens feeding their chicks between flowers and rockwork. Diameter 8,3 cm
Damaged, restored.
Provenance
Christies, London, November 16th 1999. Catalogue no 6213. Lot no 195.
Exhibitions
Compare an example in the Percival David Foundation, exhibited, Imperial Taste, Los Angeles County Museum of Art & Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art, San Fransisco & Los Angeles 1989, Catalogue no 42, p 73.
Also compare with the Dreyfus 'Chicken' cup, sold at Sotheby´s Hong Kong, 27 April 1999. Lot no 410.
More information
Often also referred to as wedding cups (bo wu yao lan) 'chicken cups' such as the present example are arguable regarded as the epitomy of Chenghua porcelain; The distinctive combination of cockerels and peonies (thought to be inspired by paintings of the tenth-century artist Huang Chuan) refers to the Chinese rebus gongming fugui, which is associated with riches and honours.