
Fluted Cup with Dragon Handle
Unknown Artist
Very thinly potted, the subtly lobed body of this cup is almost translucent. The thin, slightly opaque, light greenish glaze lends a sugary shine. Applied elements, including the handle, beaded borders, and sculptural floret, are constructed and glazed with the same materials as the body, providing a seamless blend of form and decorative embellishment. The result is an evocative reminder of slightly earlier silver cups, also created in the form of flowers. This pristine, natural construction is challenged, however, by the archaic dragon that acts as the handle. Borrowed from the decoration found on much earlier bronzes, this added form illustrates the eclecticism of the Yuan, the attempt to blend present vision with interest in the past.
Credit: Severance and Greta Millikin Collection
early 1300s
Glazed porcelain, qingbai ("blue-white") ware
9.0 cm
1964.163
Image and text: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 2023
Where you'll find this

Permanent collection