Page 331 - CHRISTIE'S Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art 09/14 - 15 / 17

1215 (another view)
A FINELY PAINTED SMALL DOUCAI ‘CHICKEN’ CUP (mark)

KANGXI PERIOD (1662-1722)
The cup has deep rounded sides rising to a very slightly everted rim. The
exterior is decorated on two sides with a chicken and chicks, the scenes
separated by blue rocks set amidst fowers. All are between blue borders, and
an apocryphal Chenghua mark is on the base.
2¡ in. (6 cm.) diam.

$20,000-30,000

Porcelain decorated with the exquisite, subtle doucai enamels in the
Chenghua period, were highly treasured both by the Ming and Qing courts.
Few pieces rival the exacting quality of Chenghua ‘chicken’ cups which are
fnely potted and meticulously painted in soft enamels with a delightfully free
and spontaneous scene of chickens tending to their chicks. While the theme
of chickens is rarely used on porcelain decoration, a number of such cups
were produced during the late Ming and Qing dynasties, in an attempt to
recreate the fne and rare qualities of the famous prototype.

Compare the doucai ‘chicken’ cup of similar small size with apocryphal
Chenghua mark, but dating to the Kangxi-Yongzheng period, sold at
Christie’s Hong Kong 31 May 2017, lot 3023.
清康熙 鬥彩小雞缸盃