Cup thumbnail 1
Not on display

Cup

16th-17th Century (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Cylindrical cup standing on three animal feet, with rectangular dragon handle, creamy off-white jade, stained and discoloured, possibly through burial. The shape is based on a prototype of the Warring States Period, and consists of a cylinder set on three animal feet, representing elephant, tiger and deer. There is a rectangular handle through which curls a dragon, carved with a sharp spine and curling tail. The body is craved with a pair of striding dragons raised in low relief, their bodies turning into squared archaistic scrolling, set on a ground of spirals raised in relief, between narrow bands of T-fret. The underside of the base is incised with randomly arranged scrolling, possibly depicting claws emerging from clouds. Its condition is damaged, chipped, though has some filled-in repairs, particularly around the top of the handle. One foot of the hare in broken off.

Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Nephrite jade with carved decoration
Brief description
Cup, nephrite jade with carved decoration, Han-style, China, 16-17th century
Physical description
Cylindrical cup standing on three animal feet, with rectangular dragon handle, creamy off-white jade, stained and discoloured, possibly through burial. The shape is based on a prototype of the Warring States Period, and consists of a cylinder set on three animal feet, representing elephant, tiger and deer. There is a rectangular handle through which curls a dragon, carved with a sharp spine and curling tail. The body is craved with a pair of striding dragons raised in low relief, their bodies turning into squared archaistic scrolling, set on a ground of spirals raised in relief, between narrow bands of T-fret. The underside of the base is incised with randomly arranged scrolling, possibly depicting claws emerging from clouds. Its condition is damaged, chipped, though has some filled-in repairs, particularly around the top of the handle. One foot of the hare in broken off.
Dimensions
  • Height: 9.1cm
  • At mouth diameter: 6.9cm
Style
Object history
1935: Joseph Homberg, Paris
1960: Captain A.D.E. Craig
1975: Sir Harry Garner
Production
James Watt opinion 11/6/87: Ming, shaoqu.
Subjects depicted
Bibliographic references
  • 'Gained in Translation' by Suning Sun-Bailey in Orientations, July 1991, photo p. 25.
  • Rawson, Jessica and Ayers, John. Chinese Jade throughout the Ages, London : Oriental Ceramics Society, 1975 no.324
  • Catalogue of the International Exhibition of Chinese Art, 1935-6, London : Royal Academy of Arts, 1935 681
  • Gray, Basil. Catalogue of an exhibition of the arts of the Sung dynasty, London : [publisher not identified], 1960 no.264
Collection
Accession number
FE.26-1983

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Record createdAugust 26, 2004
Record URL
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