Ritual “Jue” glass cup, Qing Dynasty , 1644-1912
Glass
Height: 13 cm
ES.9834
A fine Chinese cast glass wine cup of the “Jue” type. A “jue” is a type of Chinese vessel which was used since ancient times to serve warm wine during...
A fine Chinese cast glass wine cup of the “Jue” type. A “jue” is a type of Chinese vessel which was used since ancient times to serve warm wine during ceremonies in which the Supreme Deity (Shangty) and the owner’s ancestors were invoked. Indeed, this type of vessels are most found in elites’ tombs dated to the Shang dynasty and were typically made of bronze. The piece presented here is a rare example of a glass jue cup, made in style of the antique bronze vessels, highlighting the estimation for the past during the Qing Dynasty. The vessel has a short spout, a cylindrical flaring neck, a globular body with two handles attached to it and to the neck, and three legs. The handle on the back is made in the shape of a dragon climbing the neck of the cup. The vessel has been cast in one piece and is finely decorated with motifs in relief of phoenixes surrounded by geometrical motifs and spiralling scrolls. Some of the decorations are likely to have been incised by hand.