This is a very rare one! a tapered square form handled winecup commemorating the 1932 coronation of the Emperor of Manchuko, generally known as a puppet state established by the Japanese government out of the Manchurian provinces of China in the prelude to WWII. The puppet emperor was the deposed former Emperor (P'u Yi) of all China before the Chinese Revolution. In his new role, his every move was circumscribed by the Japanese plenipotentiary to his court(See his autobiography or the movie).
It was an established tradition in China for monarchs (including Mao) to celebrate their reigns by commissioning special porcelain bearing their respective marks. In this case, the porcelain artisans created a rigid form and an even more rigid narcissus spray! They knew what his life would be like. Yet even they could not have imagined that he would live a second life of rigid house arrest under the new China of Mao after being "liberated" following WWII. For P'u Yi and many others, the early years from 1911 to 1930 were the best. It was a long down hill slide afterwards.
2.7" square by 1.4" high. Mint condition. Green felt at bottom corners for protection. This is a unique wine cup, historically important and so exquisite in the artist's mockery. Imagine the "Emperor", his court and his foreign keepers toasting out of these square cups! A piece of history from the Early Republic of China!
Also in this period, there was a movement to extend the traditional fine arts (literati art) to the sphere of high crafts, of which porcelain was the most prominent. Accordingly many outstanding "artists" who painted porcelain were recognized & became quite well known. The porcelain of this period was of outstanding quality & variety, and the artistic expression was also of exceptional order. There are avid collectors of this period in Asia. There are even some very good books on the subject, including Gunhild Avitabile's "From the Dragon's Treasure" and Hong Kong Museum of Art's "Brush & Clay, Chinese Porcelain of the Early 20th Century". The period from about 1900-1940 was tumultuous in China. But it was also a period in which many of the arts flourished. I'll be listing a few interesting items from this distinctive era. Please keep tuned if you like the subject. And of course email is always welcome whether you agree or disagree.
Porcelain from this period can be bought very reasonably. And except for the dinner services, nothing was made in huge quantities. Indeed many were unique.
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