A PAIR OF GOLD OCTAGONAL LOBED CUPS Ming Dynasty (3)A PAIR OF GOLD OCTAGONAL LOBED CUPSMing Dynasty Each cup hammered into eight petal-shaped lobes with a lipped mouthrim, resting on a slightly splayed foot with recessed base, box. Each 3.2cm (1 1/4in) high. (3).明 錘揲八出菊瓣形小杯一對Provenance:An English private collection, prior to 1990s來源:英國私人舊藏，1990年代前Compare with another eight-lobed Ming dynasty example excavated in Lanzhou, illustrated in Zhongguo jinyin boli falangqi quanji [Complete works of Chinese gold, silver, glass and enamelware], Beijing, 2004, vol.3, p.128, no.239. This type of small wine cup was referred to as zhong in the Ming dynasty, mentioned in chapter 16 of the classic Jin Ping Mei (The Plum in the Golden Vase) as a silver-inlaid small cup filling with yellow wine; see related discussion by Z.S.Yang, Shehuazhise: Song Yuan Ming jinyinqi yanjiu [The Study of Gold and Silver Wares in the Song, Yuan and Ming Dynasties], Beijing, 2011, vol.3, p.157.杯圓唇，八出菊瓣口，瓜棱鼓腹，圈足，杯身兩層合就，整體錘揲而成。此對小杯可參考一件蘭州出土之明代金碗，俱是八出菊瓣口，雙層錘揲而成，見《中國金銀玻璃琺瑯器全集》，北京，2004年，卷3，頁128， 編號239。此類小杯明代統稱為「鐘」，《金瓶梅》第十六回提到「銀鑲鐘兒盛著南酒」，便是此類小杯。相關討論見揚之水著，《奢華之色—宋元明金銀器研究》，北京，2011年，卷三，頁157。