This flared form with four bracket feet is thought have derived from the rhinoceros horn-inspired cups (see 2000-03446, 2000-03353, 2000-03355). They were probably moulded in one piece - the flared shape enabled easy extraction from the mould. There were a range of incised and relief designs and inscriptions on these cups. This example has finely incised 'anhua' or ‘secret decoration’ of the Eight Horses of Mu Wang, which can be clearly seen when the cup is held up against light. The larger of these were probably used for drinking wine, while the medium ones could have been used for tea.Dehua, located on the southeast coast of Fujian province, is well known for its production of white porcelain, known to Europeans as 'blanc de Chine'. The earliest Dehua porcelain was produced as early as the 14th century but the production and quality of these porcelain peaked around the 17th and 18th centuries.
