Dehua-kiln, white-glaze stacked porcelain cup with lid

Ancient ceramics frequently employed the technique of stacking and pasting, also known as sculptural pasting, stacked carving, or stacked sculpture. This method involves stamping or sculpting three-dimensional patterns onto the surface of a ceramic body, which is then glazed and fired to produce a decorative ceramic piece. Popular auspicious motifs on Dehua white porcelain include plum blossoms, magnolias, lotus flowers, the Eight Immortals, dragons, and phoenixes, as well as traditional Chinese stories and allegory. These designs serve as a means of spreading Chinese culture.
The inscription on the lid reads, "Magpies fighting over plum blossoms, Shiyutang."
The patterns on the cup represent unchanging honest and upright characters (pine and moon), perpetual nobility (monkey), fragrans and orchids, and prosperity in all things (pine and deer).