The fish and algae pattern is one of the classic traditional decorative motifs in ancient China. It features fish as the core subject, complemented by lotus flowers and leaves, duckweed and aquatic plants. First employed by the Cizhou Kiln System in the Song Dynasty, it bore a simple and unsophisticated artistic style back then. After the Yuan Dynasty, under the aesthetic norms of diversity and layering, the composition of the fish and algae pattern grew increasingly elaborate. It was frequently painted on porcelains such as blue and white, underglaze red and five-color wares, acting as the primary motif on vessel types including large jars, large plates, meiping vases and yuhuchun vases.

This blue and white porcelain algae pattern cup is as thin as paper, rings like a chime, and boasts exquisite painting craftsmanship.