Cup (part of a service)
ca. 1740
Medium
Hard-paste porcelain
Dimensions
Diameter: 2 15/16 in. (7.5 cm)
Classification
Ceramics-Porcelain-Export
Culture
Chinese, possibly for Dutch market
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Helena Woolworth McCann Collection, Purchase, Winfield Foundation Gift, 1961
Accession Number
61.64.6
Art Historical Context
This elegant cup, created around 1740 by Dutch artist Cornelis Pronk, forms part of a larger porcelain service made in China expressly for the European market. Pronk’s designs were frequently commissioned by Dutch trading companies and sent to Chinese workshops, where local artisans adapted them to suit Western tastes. The result was a graceful fusion of cultures, with delicate forms and patterns that appealed to collectors in the Netherlands and beyond. Crafted from hard-paste porcelain, the cup showcases the material’s renowned strength, fine translucency, and ability to hold intricate deco...
About the Artist
Cornelis Pronk · 1691–1759
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