Rare Plum-Blossom-Shaped Wine Cup

Materials and Date

Zitan with silver inlay, 17th century

H

6cm (2¼in)

D

10cm (4in)

Full Description

This extremely rare, beautiful cup is an early example of extant zitan and probably dates from the late Ming dynasty. The shape, which is finely crafted from a single piece of timber, is similar in design and quality to the best ceramic and lacquer examples from the Song dynasty and later. One of the four petals has a silver wire-inlaid, eight-character inscription:

Only wine is needed for warming the heart But poetry is essential for regulating the mind.