Document Description
| Object Name | A Pair of eggshell-thin cups with chrysanthemum spray designs |
| Description | This is a pair of modern eggshell-thin cups primarily decorated with overglaze chrysanthemum spray designs in various colors. The top of each the cup is adorned with cloud collars while the bottom is decorated with hui wen (key fret patterns). Two lines of a poem are inscribed on one side, which read, "mo dao san jing leng, li jue ban qiu xiang" meaning "never complain about the coldness in the autumn as you can always smell the fragrance of chrysanthemum in this season." The chrysanthemum is a symbol of autumn and of fortitude; it blossoms in the fall despite "the onslaught of frost and icy winds". It is also known as the hermit of flowers because of its association with Tao Qian (style name yuanming), a fourth-century poet-recluse who resigned his official post and retired to his small farm to write poetry. A number of his poems are about the chrysanthemum. Three stylized seals are together with this poem. On the base of the footring there is a reign mark "qianlong nian zhi" (Made during the Qianlong Reign) in seal script. It is obviously just a copy. According to Dr. Kramer's notes, this cup is a recent production for tourist trade at an inexpensive price. |
| Country of Origin | China |
| Medium | Eggshell-thin porcelain, wood, overglaze in many colors |
| Dimensions | Height 6.2 cm; Diameter at mouth 6 cm; Original black wood stand |
| Period | Republican period
|
| Date Original | Early 20th century; 1900-1946 A.D. |
| Location Number | AA 91 |
| Classification | Porcelain
|
| Inventory Number | 152, 153 |
| Repository | Special Collections, Gettysburg College |
| Contact Information | http://www.gettysburg.edu/special_collections/contact.dot |
| Rights | Digital images copyright Special Collections, Musselman Library, Gettysburg College. All rights reserved. For permission information, see http://www.gettysburg.edu/special_collections/policies/copyright_information.dot |
