Famille Verte Libation Cup, Kangxi (1662-1722)

Ref: U357

Chinese famille verte libation cup, Kangxi (1662-1722), with applied chilong-dragons, the body decorated with flowering lotus scrolls between bands of Greek key motifs and cloudscrolls, the rim with a band of green fishscale-pattern ground with stylised red flowerheads and two cartouches containing a solid lozenge (mirror) and qin (musical jade stone), two of the eight precious babao, the interior rim decorated with a band of floral cell ground interspersed with black flowerheads.

Dimensions:

Diameter: 11.5cm. (4 1/2in.)

Condition:

Fritting to rim, faint crackling to glaze.

Notes:

Similar libation cups can be found in the Philadelphia Museum of Art Collection, see Accession No. 1955-50-149. The eight babao (precious things) are auspicious symbols commonly incorporated in ceramic design. The two seen on this libation cup are the mirror, representing conjugal happiness, and a musical jade stone, symbol of a just and felicitous life.