An artwork on Galleree from Cleveland Museum of Art.
About the artwork
Wine Cup with Children at Play1465–87
This delicate wine cup, only two inches high, exhibits free, spontaneous drawing as well as perfect compositional balance over its small surface area. The motifs were outlined with cobalt blue; the piece was then glazed and fired in the normal way for making the blue-and-white ware. After firing, the outline painting was completed with colored enamels over the glaze. The piece was fired the second time. The pictorial decoration is refined and complicated; the porcelain body is of exceptionally high quality and is thin, translucent, and light in weight.
Chenghua ware demonstrates one of the high points of technological accomplishment in Chinese porcelain production.
porcelain with underglaze blue and overglaze enamel decoration, docai ("joined colors") ware
Overall: 4.8 cm (1 7/8 in.)
John L. Severance Fund
In a quiet corner of the world, stands a delicate wine cup, no taller than two inches. It rests there, a tiny vessel holding countless stories within its fragile porcelain walls. Crafted with unwavering care, it embodies an artistry that speaks to the beholder in hushed tones.
The cup's surface is a dance of free and spontaneous drawing, a fleeting moment captured in cobalt blue. Each line, each swirl is a testament to the artist’s skilled hand, sketching chaotic beauty that somehow balances itself, creating a perfect composition upon its small canvas. This is not just an object; it is a whisper of creativity, mingling effortlessly with tradition.
After the initial creation, the artist patiently glazed the cup, preparing it for the fire—the ancient ritual that transforms raw clay into luminous porcelain. Once it emerged, brilliant and blue, it beckoned for further adornment. With careful precision, the artist returned to the piece, seeking to add colors that would infuse life within the cobalt outlines—a vivid symphony flourished across the surface.
Then came the second firing, a ceremonial moment that forever sealed the enchantment within. What emerged was not merely a cup but a finely adorned treasure, its decorative motifs both refined and intricate. It carried an elegance that invited admiration, while its porcelain body, exceptionally crafted, boasted a thinness that glowed like sunlight passing through sheer fabric.
Light in weight, yet heavy with significance, the wine cup narrates a compelling tale—a celebration of craftsmanship where art meets function, urging us to pause and appreciate the beauty found in the delicate balance of spontaneity and careful design. In its quiet presence, one can lose themselves in its story, feeling the gentle embrace of creativity that resonates deeply with the heart.
About the artist
Creating transformative experiences through art “for the benefit of all the people forever.”The Cleveland Museum of Art is renowned for the quality and breadth of its collection, which includes more than 66,500 artworks and spans 6,000 years of achievement in the arts. The artworks shared on this platform are sourced from the museum's Open Access data under the CC0 license. No endorsement is implied.Address: 11150 East Boulevard, Cleveland, OH, USA 44106
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