China
Lacquer Tea Bowl 乾隆禦制雕漆盞
INV-0134
ChinaQing dynasty (1644–1911), Qianlong reign mark and period (1736–1795)
Lacquer Tea Bowl 乾隆禦制雕漆盞
China
Chinese (culture or style)drinking vessellacquer
Date
Qing dynasty (1644–1911), Qianlong reign mark and period (1736–1795)
Medium
Cinnabar and black lacquer with carved decoration
Dimensions
5.6 × 10.9 cm (2 3/16 × 4 15/16 in.); Diam.: 10.9 cm (4 15/16 in.)
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Location
Chicago, IL
Credit
Gift of Martin A. Ryerson and C. L. Hutchinson
This finely carved two-color lacquer tea bowl bears an inscription of a poem composed by Emperor Qianlong in 1746. The poem praises the “three purity tea” (sanqing cha), which consists of plum blossom petals, fingered citron and pine nuts, and must be brewed in melted snow water. According to imperial records, Emperor Qianlong often served sanqing tea during his renowned tea gatherings held in the palace during the New Year season. It was at one of these banquets that he wrote this poem. Although the same poem appears on many tea utensils made for the Emperor, lacquer pieces like this bowl are particularly rare due to the extensive time and effort required for their production.
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