Just for eating and drinking(3)
The Luminous Cup
A poet in the Tang Dynasty wrote the poem 'Grape-wine in the luminous cup' to describe an exotic scene in the western region (the following sentence suggested that soldiers should not be allowed to drink because of the imminent warfare). This distinctive cup was made of jade from Mt. Qilianshan, which was said to help keep contents wholesome and now is highly regarded for its aesthetic value.
Backwards-flowing Flagon
This can be seen in the Shaanxi Provincial Museum. The flagon was produced during the Northern Song Dynasty (960 - 1127). It has a round body and what appears to be the lid is like a persimmon pedicel. Its handle bears a phoenix that seems to be raising her head and about to take flight. The spout is carved into a female lion from whose mouth the wine pours. Under the lioness is her son, - the suckling little lion adds more interest to the body. The belly of the flagon is decorated with a peony flower pattern. On the underside of the flagon there is a hole like a plum blossom. It is here that the wine is poured into the vessel and the design is such that the liquid does not run out when it is returned to an upright position.
