Blue-And-White Winding Branch Pattern Bowl Set • Master Cup

The press-hand cup is a type of finely crafted porcelain cup developed during the Yongle period of the Ming Dynasty at the Jingdezhen Imperial Kiln. Characterized by its robust and simple form, the cup features deep jade-toned blue and white decorations and was exclusively used within the imperial court. The body of the press-hand cup resembles a small bowl, with a slightly flared rim, a pinched waist, a full bottom, and a ring foot. It is named for the way it is held: when grasped, the flared rim comfortably presses against the web of the hand (the "tiger’s mouth" area), and due to the cup's body thickening downward from the rim, it gives a distinct heavy and pressing sensation when held in the palm.