Wine Cup with Children at Play
明成化斗彩婴戏纹杯
Just two inches tall, this Chenghua doucai cup is the rarest of all classic Chinese porcelains. The body is paper-thin and translucent; the children at play are outlined in cobalt under the glaze, then completed in red, green, and yellow enamels above it — a two-firing technique perfected only at Chenghua's kilns.
Object Facts
- Period
- Ming dynasty, Chenghua mark and period (1465–1487)
- Date
- 1465–1487
- Medium
- Porcelain with underglaze blue and overglaze enamel (doucai 'joined colors')
- Dimensions
- H. 4.8 cm
- Held by
- The Cleveland Museum of Art
Cleveland, USA - Accession
- 1957.61
Cleveland Museum of Art — Severance and Greta Millikin Collection
Why it matters
Chenghua doucai cups have sold at auction for the price of skyscrapers. Sotheby's Hong Kong sold a related 'chicken cup' in 2014 for HK$281M. They define the apex of Chinese imperial porcelain technique.
How it travelled
Probably exported from the Qing palace through Beijing dealers in the late 19th century, passing through Japanese tea-ware collectors. Cleveland acquired it via the Millikin fund in 1957 — recognised even then as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I see Wine Cup with Children at Play?+
Wine Cup with Children at Play is held by the The Cleveland Museum of Art in Cleveland, USA. Accession number 1957.61. Online catalogue record: https://clevelandart.org/art/1957.61.
When was Wine Cup with Children at Play created?+
Wine Cup with Children at Play dates to 1465–1487, during the Ming dynasty, Chenghua mark and period (1465–1487).
What is Wine Cup with Children at Play made of?+
Wine Cup with Children at Play is a wine cup executed in porcelain with underglaze blue and overglaze enamel (doucai 'joined colors'), measuring H. 4.8 cm.
How did Wine Cup with Children at Play end up at the Cleveland Museum?+
Probably exported from the Qing palace through Beijing dealers in the late 19th century, passing through Japanese tea-ware collectors. Cleveland acquired it via the Millikin fund in 1957 — recognised even then as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Can I reuse the photograph of Wine Cup with Children at Play?+
Yes. The Cleveland Museum has released the image under Creative Commons Zero (CC0), so it is free for any use, commercial or non-commercial, with no attribution required (though attribution is appreciated).
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