| Finely
decorated on the exterior with two groups of cockerels parading in
front of hens among chicks pecking at the ground. Decoration
in colorful enamels within delicate cobalt blue outline. The two
separate scenes are divided by finely shaded blue rock groupings among
bamboo, peonies, and narcissus. The reign mark inscribed in cobalt blue
within a double square.
Most
(if not all) Qing copies show the cockerels in different facing
positions, with many ruffled tail feathers versus the traditional
'three tail feathers' on all known authenticated Chenghua chicken
cups. On April 8th, 2014, a Chenghua chicken cup set a record
for the highest price paid at auction for any Chinese work of art,
going for $36 million USD. To date, there are only three known
authentic Chenghua chicken cups in private hands.
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