Asian Art

History in the Palm of Your Hand | Chinese Tea & Wine Cups

5 May 2025

Grace Tu

The evolution of Chinese tea and wine cups offers a rich narrative of craftsmanship, cultural values, and artistic experimentation. Across centuries, these vessels have served not only as practical objects but also as reflections of their time - markers of social hierarchy, technical innovation, and aesthetic taste.

Fine Asian Works of Art

Explore examples from the results in our May 2025 Fine Asian Works of Art auction.

Materials and Meaning

From early stoneware and lacquer to silver, porcelain, and even coconut shells, Chinese artisans employed a wide range of materials. Each medium carried both functional significance and symbolic resonance. Whether monochrome or adorned with vibrant famille rose decoration, these objects offer insight into the sophistication of Chinese material culture. Pieces such as a fine silver wine cup or those carved from organic materials, stand as rare examples of early ingenuity.

Tang Dynasty: The Cosmopolitan Age

The Tang dynasty (618–906), a period of economic prosperity and global exchange, fostered the flourishing of tea and wine culture. A notable example from this era is a Changsha polychrome-decorated tea bowl, which typifies the colourful and expressive ceramic forms popular in this cosmopolitan age.

TANG DYNASTY

CHINESE CHANGSHA POLYCHROME-DECORATED TEA BOWL

Song Dynasty: Subtle Elegance

By the Song dynasty (960–1279), the aesthetic sensibilities of tea culture shifted towards understated refinement, echoing Confucian ideals. The rise of tea connoisseurship brought dark-glazed bowls into favour, valued for their visual interplay with the frothy, pale tea of the time. Bowls such as the Jizhou leaf-decorated example (below) showcase the delicate innovation characteristic of the era. Celadon wares from Yaozhou and Longquan also gained popularity, continuing well into the Ming dynasty.

SOUTHERN SONG DYNASTY

CHINESE JIZHOU LEAF-DECORATED TEA BOWL

Ming and Qing Dynasties: Technical Mastery and Export Flourish

During the Ming and Qing periods (1368–1911), porcelain craftsmanship reached new heights. Artisans explored a broad spectrum of glazes, forms, and motifs, creating pieces for both imperial courts and global markets. Among the highlights are the Dehua rhinoceros horn-form libation cups (Lot 40), which reinterpret organic forms with remarkable skill. The iron-red decorated ‘Dragon’ wine cups from the Tongzhi and Guangxu periods (below) exemplify the refinement of Qing imperial kilns.

20th Century and Beyond

Even into the 20th century, the tradition persisted. A set of ten Qianjiang-enamelled cups (below) reflects the continued playfulness and creativity of Chinese ceramic decoration, appealing to collectors today as much as ever.

From the Tang dynasty’s expressive polychromes to the technical brilliance of Qing porcelain, Chinese tea and wine cups trace a lineage of cultural exchange and artistic innovation. These intimate objects—once cradled in the hands of emperors, scholars, and everyday people alike—serve as miniature chronicles of China’s vast and varied history.

REN HUANZHANG (1874-1902) MARK, 20TH CENTURY

SET OF TEN CHINESE QIANJIANG-ENEMALLED CUPS

Department

Asian Art

About the Author

Specialist

Grace Tu

Head of Asian Art | London

grace.tu@lyonandturnbull.com

0207 930 9115