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Why were Chenghua chicken cups admired and copied in later centuries?

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Chinese sculpture during the Han dynasty examined — Chinese art A discussion of Chinese art, from the documentary *China: West Meets East at the Metropolitan Museum of Art*.

Chenghua chicken cups, produced during the reign of the Chenghua emperor (1464–1487), are highly regarded for their delicate craftsmanship and unique aesthetic qualities. These small wine cups are celebrated for their "contending colours" (doucai), a technique where designs are outlined in underglaze blue and filled with thin, subdued overglaze colours that create a distinctively pictorial effect.12

Chinese connoisseurs have long admired these pieces for the care and refinement applied to their overglaze painting. Because of this high esteem, the cups became sought-after collector's items, leading to expert imitations as early as the 16th century and again in the 18th century. Their enduring legacy in Chinese art stems from this combination of technical innovation and the sophisticated, graceful style that defined the Chenghua period's imperial pottery.21