Cuiwei (Green Mountains) Zhezhi (Flowering Branches, Floral Pattern) Petal Cup

Cuiwei signifies the verdant hues of mountain landscapes, also alluding to green mountains. It first emerged in the poetry of Yu Xin (庾信), a literary figure of the Southern and Northen Dynasties, as depicted in the verse: “Travelers bask in spring’s radiance, On golden saddles, amid Cuiwei (green mountains) they dance.”

The exterior of the cup is adorned with a vibrant shade of  Cuiwei (green) glaze reminiscent of fresh spring foliage, exuding a refreshing hue and vitality.

Inside the cup, the technique of famille rose porcelain is employed to depict motifs of Zhezhi (flowering branches). Famille rose originated during the Kangxi era of the Qing Dynasty and reached its peak during the Yongzheng and Qianlong periods of the Qing Dynasty. Compared to other colored ceramics, famille rose began to dominate the scene during the Qianlong period, even posing a threat to the supremacy of blue-and-white porcelain, the “emperor” of ceramics.

Starting from the Song Dynasty, motifs of Zhezhi (flowering branches) became increasingly common on ceramics from kilns such as Ding, Yaozhou, and Cizhou, and gained greater popularity after the Yuan Dynasty. These motifs typically depict include chrysanthemums, lotuses, peonies, plums, and various other flowering branches, imbuing them with auspicious and beautiful blessings.

The cup features hand-carved petal designs, exhibiting an aesthetically pleasing shape that is also comfortable to hold.

The rim of the cup is delicately adorned with Benjin (pure gold) gilding, featuring a lightweight and refined gold edge decoration, adding a touch of sophistication. Benjin, also known as gold powder or genuine gold powder, was a new “gold embellishment technique” that emerged during the Qing Kangxi period. It involves grinding gold foil into powder, adding lead oxide, and then producing it in a way to lower the melting point of gold.