The doucai technique appeared in the reign of the Xuande Emperor (1426-1435), from which a dish with red and green enamels was excavated at the Jindezhen kilns [REF].
Chenghua wine cups were already fetching very high prices among collectors in the reign of the Wanli Emperor (1573-1619),[REF] and in the 18th century there are various literary references to "chicken cups" as objects of great value, including an episode in Dream of the Red Chamber by Cao Xueqin (d.