CHENGHUA SIX-CHARACTER MARK AND OF THE PERIOD (1465 - 1487)

Often also referred to as wedding cups (bo wu yao lan), 'chicken cups' such as the present example are arguably regarded as the epitomy of Chenghua porcelain. The distinctive combination of cockerels and peonies (thought to be inspired by paintings of the tenth-century artist Huang Chuan) refers to the Chinese rebus gongming fugui, which is associated with riches and honours.
Compare an example in the Percival David Foundation, exhibited, Imperial Taste, Los Angeles County Museum of Art & Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art, San Francisco & Los Angeles, 1989, Catalogue, no.42, p.73.