Chinese Antique Small 18th Century Lacquer Cup for Fine Liquor

DescriptionAntique Chinese dainty cup for drinking fine liquor with delicate writing and fruiting branches in gold lacquer on black lacquer ground. The writing translates as: “Savor the bejeweled nectar, the outstanding fruit of the immortals, the elixir of crushed jade, the exotic chǔpíng fruit of legend.” 嘗 to taste 来 to come 玉液 “gem/jade nectar”; can also mean ‘fine liquor’ 殊 special/outstanding 仙菓 mythical fruit of the immortals 剖破 to take apart & break; (= crushed) 瓊漿 fine jade elixir, a drink of the immortals; (often together with 玉液 from above); can also mean ‘jadelike wine’ (瓊 appears in a different form in the lower right portion but seems clear from context here) 異 different, uncommon 椘苹 (variant of 楚萍) the legendary chuping fruit described by Confucius as round, red and edibleAge: 18th centuryDimensions: 2 3/4″ high x 1 1/2″ wide diameter