Title
Wine cup
Year/Period
Late 19th-early 20th centuries
Region
Straits Settlements and Indonesia
Dimension
Gross measurement: H: 6.0,
x Dia: 9.4cm
x Dia: 9.4cm
Accession No.
2011-01551
Collection of
This wine cup is decorated with motifs of a phoenix and pink peonies. The phoenix is an auspicious symbol in the Chinese culture representing beauty, grace, high virtue, the bride and the Empress. Likewise, peonies are auspicious symbols that symbolise spring, love, beauty and good fortune.Wine cups were traditionally used on altars in the Peranakan home. Wine cups were either used in a set of three for an offering to the deities or in a set of eight to the ancestors. Wine cups are the smallest size of cups found in Nonyaware.
