The Metropolitan Museum of Art - Wine Cup with Two Ducks

Art Object

Brushed with Passion

Part of a Sunday at the Met held in conjunction with the exhibition Designing Nature: The Rinpa Aesthetic in Japanese Art, on view May 26, 2012–January 13, 2013, this lecture features John T. Carpenter, Curator, Department of Asian Art at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and a calligraphy demonstration by Fumie Yamada.

Recorded September 30, 2012

The exhibition is made possible by The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Foundation.
The catalogue is made possible by the Richard and Geneva Hofheimer Memorial Fund.

Video/Audio (3)

Cambodian Rattan: The Sculpture of Sopheap Pich
(00:02:07) 2251 views

Sunday at the Met: Cambodian Rattan Discussion
(00:57:05) 64 views

Sunday at the Met: Cambodian Rattan Performance
(00:28:04) 60 views

Wine Cup with Two Ducks

Period:: Tang dynasty (618–907)
Date:: 8th–9th century
Culture:: China
Medium:: Silver with gilding
Dimensions:: H. 1 1/4 in. (3.2 cm); W. 5 5/8 in. (14.3 cm); D. 3 in. (7.6 cm); Diam. of foot 3 in. (7.6 cm); H. of foot 1 1/2 in. (3.8 cm)
Classification:: Metalwork
Credit Line:: Purchase, The Dillon Fund Gift, 1991
Accession Number:: 1991.159

This artwork is not on display

Description

West Asian depictions of two birds facing one another may have helped to inspire the representation of the two mandarin ducks in the interior of this cup. In Chinese culture the ducks are a longstanding symbol for marital happiness.
See also
What
Metal (59,364)

Metalwork (14,716)

Silver (14,056)

Gilt (9,043)

Drinking vessels (6,032)

Cups (3,861)

Wine cups (68)
Where
Asia (68,071)

China (17,417)
When
A.D. 500-1000 (6,672)
In the Museum
Asian Art (35,222)
Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History
Tang Dynasty (618–906)

Central and North Asia, 500–1000 A.D.

China, 500–1000 A.D.
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