The Gold Cups of Eternal Stability and the Celebration of the Chinese New Year

Abstract

• The Gold Cups of Eternal Stability are among the most extraordinary objects in the Wallace Collection. The Qianlong Emperor ordered them especially for the First Stroke Ceremony, performed on the New Year’s Day in the Forbidden City in Beijing. Their surface is covered with kingfisher feathers, a technique also used in decorating a spectacular headdress in the collection of the National Museum of Scotland. In their conversation, curators Dr Qin Cao and Ada de Wit will explore the fascinating history of the gold cups, the use of kingfisher feathers in decoration, and the celebration of New Year at the Chinese Qing court.