Pair of Gilt Tea Cups with White Cranes

Tea drinking has been an integral part of Chinese culture for centuries, resulting in a wide range of social customs and material traditions both practical and decorative. This pair of fine porcelain tea cups has a simple, tapered form, shaped with a very thin body and a narrow footed base. Dated to the Republic Period (1912-1949), the cups are decorated with a rich, persimmon-orange glaze accented by gilt brushwork. Each cup features a white crane with gold embellishments, a symbol of longevity. The underside of the vessel is finished with a stamped maker’s mark.