Stem Cup with Lotus Medallions in Contrasting Colors

Vessels with decoration in contrasting colors (doucai) are first fired at high temperature with outlines of the target patterns painted in cobalt blue pigment beneath the transparent glaze layer, then filled in with polychrome pigments over the glaze layer and re-fired at low temperature. The motif on the stem cup displayed here includes four groups of medallion lotuses and stylized leaves and flowers corresponding each other near the mouth rim and the contracting bottom of the cup.