Queen Mother Tu Cung Hoang Thai Hau's Ming Dynasty Yellow-Ground Famille Rose Medicine Cup (From a Vietnamese Royal Family) - This magnificent, museum quality medicine cup is of typical form resting on a short foot with deep rounded sides. It is elaborately decorated in the Famille Rose style with polychrome enamel decoration on a vivid yellow ground. The cup is decorated with an ornate Fenghuang (phoenix) and crane motif along with chrysanthemum blossoms. It is believed that the Fenghuang only appears in areas or places that are blessed with utmost peace and prosperity or happiness. It is a symbol of high virtue and grace, and is said to represent power sent from the heavens to the Empress. The crane signifies longevity, happiness and smooth flight, or a smooth path through life. The cup is also decorated on the interior with a pair of chrysanthemums and a seven character marking circling the rim. The bottom of the bowl bears the six character Chenghua reign mark in underglazed blue. This piece comes from the estate of a Vietnamese Royal Family (the family now lives in the United States, and wishes to remain private), and once belonged to the Queen Mother Tu Cung Hoang Thai Hau (Empress Dowager Doan Huy) who kept the piece in her personal collection before it was passed down. Empress Dowager Doan Huy was the last queen of the Nguyen dynasty, and the mother of Emperor Bao Dai. Upon being named Empress Dowager, Tu Cung immersed herself in Chinese, French, and Vietnamese, learning the etiquette and protocol related to daily life in the Hue Royal court. After the fall of Nguyen Dynasty while her son Emperor Bao Dai went into exile, the Empress remained and devoted herself to preserving the former capital of Hue. She sponsored the restoration of Thai Temple and other war torn mausoleums of Nguyen royals. This is a true modern day treasure, and a once in a lifetime opportunity to own a piece of Vietnamese history. This piece has excellent investment potential, as it is thought by experts around the world and avid collectors that due to the rapid modernization of Vietnam, Vietnamese antiques will within the next ten years be more valuable than Chinese antiques. According to some of the most expert collectors in the world, what used to sell for hundreds are now selling for tens of thousands.