Tea cup - Porcelain - Qing dynasty 1644–1911

A traditional tea cup from the Qing dynasty (1644–1911) embodies centuries of Chinese tea culture, where porcelain tea wares were central to the art of tea drinking. Qing dynasty porcelain is appreciated for its refined clay body and often vibrant enamel decoration, reflecting a period when tea culture flourished in China and the design of tea cups evolved to suit various types of teas. These tea cups range in style from simple and elegant to elaborately painted with symbolic motifs. Their small size and delicate nature are characteristic features, and they remain a symbol of the social and ceremonial aspects of Chinese life involving tea.