DUY TAN CUP
In 1915, the Hue court ordered two large-sized trophies in France to be presented on the occasion of King Duy Tan’s birthday – size: 390mm high; mouth diameter 460mm – Material: gold-plated porcelain – Decorative pattern: five-clawed dragon, the unique symbol, unlimited ruling power of the emperor (no exceptions). And the court’s seal in the middle (tentatively translated: Phu Chanh Phu an). According to court rules, when the king was young (King Duy Tan ascended the throne at the age of 7), he had to establish the Phu Chinh office to run the country – On the body (vertical line of words) there are scattered cloud motifs (clouds) and the Chinese characters “the king’s grace covers the office – permeates the wounded soldiers”. On the body (horizontal line of words) running around the body, roughly translated as “longevity without boundaries” (6 sentences). At the foot are scattered clouds and four characters, roughly translated as “prosperity and longevity”, by DE’CORE’ – SEVRES -1915- FRANC (printed on the bottom of the object). Of the two objects ordered by the royal court, one is on display here and the other is owned by the Hue Royal National Museum.
