CHINE, DYNASTIE QING, EPOQUE KANGXI (1662-1722)

From at least as early as the 14th century coconut shell was being used in China to produce vessels such as cups and even ewers, and was mentioned in the Cao Zhao's 1388 Gegu Yaolun as coming from Vietnam, Guangzhou and Guangxi. By the Kangxi reign in the late 17th century Guangzhou was still one of the major centres for making items such as wine cups out of coconut shell. The cups were usually lined with silver, silvered copper or lacquer.