Dayazhai Enamel Flower Jar Cup

The enamel-painted lotus flower cup is a collaborative work by several masters, including Zhang Jian, a master of overglaze enamel and gold-painting techniques in Jingdezhen.
The porcelain painting on this jar is extremely fine, with lines as delicate as hair. This jar was commissioned by Zhao Qingtao, the owner of Dayatang, and is slightly larger in size.

Lotus flower intertwined branches pattern:

The exterior is painted with enamel lotus and vine patterns, which are free and open in form, with abstract flowers and clear leaf veins. The lotus branches and leaves are graceful and dynamic.
The colors are vibrant, and the exterior is decorated with gold-painted string patterns.

The lotus flower pattern originated in the Tang Dynasty, possibly reflecting international exchanges between the Tang Dynasty and the West. The intertwined vine pattern originated in the Han Dynasty and flourished during the Northern and Southern Dynasties, Sui and Tang Dynasties, Song and Yuan Dynasties, and Ming and Qing Dynasties.

Enamel:
Besides its intricate and delicate design, the enamel-painted lotus flower cup requires four firings in the kiln to complete, each with its own risks.
Enamelware from the Qing Dynasty was originally intended for the enjoyment of emperors and empresses. Enamel is a special type of artificially fired pigment. Before the sixth year of the Yongzheng Emperor's reign (1728), it had to be imported from Europe. After the sixth year of the Yongzheng Emperor's reign, the Qing Palace workshops were able to refine more than 20 kinds of enamel pigments themselves, which was a product of the peak period of ancient Chinese polychrome porcelain craftsmanship.