The Dragon Jade Cup

This Jade Dragon Cup was carved for the Timurid emperor, Ulugh Beg, in the fifteenth century. He ruled a vast empire that spanned Central Asia, Iran and Afghanistan, as well as parts of Iraq, Pakistan, and India. It was an empire sandwiched between the East and the West but belonged to neither.

The cup is oval shaped, about six inches long and made from a tight grained olive-green nephrite. Although it was carved in the Timurid capital, Samarkand, which is in modern day Uzbekistan, it’s handle is in the style of a Chinese dragon which indicates an Eastern influence, while the inscription is in Arabic, which is looking to the West.

Dragon Jade Cup carved in the fifteenth century and currently held by the British Museum

It was believed jade cups had magical powers. If poison was placed in such a vessel it would shatter – so the owner could drink without worrying. Ulugh Beg wasn’t poisoned but he met a sticky end after only two years on the throne. One of his own sons led a revolt against him, captured him and had him decapitated.

The vessel ended up in Istanbul a few centuries later. It had been damaged along the way and repaired with silver which was inscribed with the script used by the Ottoman Turks. It’s journey continued westward until it ended up in the British Museum. So it started in the Timurid Empire, was taken by the Ottoman Empire, acquired by the British Empire. I wonder which empire will acquire it next ………?