Page 250 - Christies Fine Chinese Works of Art March 2016 New York

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A YAOZHOU RUSSET-BROWN-GLAZED CUP STAND THE PROPERTY OF A GENTLEMAN
NORTHERN SONG DYNASTY, 11TH-12TH CENTURY
1526
The cup holder has a rounded shoulder that curves in towards the
rim, and sides that taper towards the integral ‘saucer’ raised on a A YAOZHOU CELADON CARVED DISH
slightly splayed pedestal foot. The whole is covered inside and out NORTHERN SONG-JIN DYNASTY, 12TH-13TH CENTURY
with a somewhat variegated russet-brown glaze that thins on the
rims and falls irregularly onto the foot, exposing the fne light grey The body fares widely to the shallow upright sides that rise to a
stoneware. lipped rim, and the interior is well carved with a scrolling stem
bearing a large lotus blossom and leaf within a line border. The dish is
4Ω in. (11.6 cm.) diam., Japanese wood box covered overall, including the inside of the foot and base, with a glaze
of olive-green tone.

7¿ in. (18 cm.) diam.

$8,000-12,000 $7,000-9,000

The function of the cup-stand is very similar to that of a saucer. As the 北宋/金 耀州窯青釉蓮紋盤
steaming cups and bowls of tea have no handles, they are placed on stands
when served or passed around, so as not to burn the fngers. In addition,
they had a decorative purpose and were used as part of the presentation of
the tea ceremony. In the Zu xia lu (Record of Leisurely Enjoyment) the 9th
century author Li Kuangyi states that the frst bowl stands were made in
the Jianzong reign (AD 780-83). However, the earliest bowl stand excavated
to date comes from a Jin dynasty tomb in Changsha, Hunan province.
Certainly by the Song dynasty bowl stands were very popular in both lacquer
and ceramics. The lacquer bowls and bowl stands were very costly, and
so ceramics which emulated the color and texture of lacquer were much
appreciated. The present bowl stand has the color and glossy texture of
brown lacquer.

北宋 耀州窯柿釉盞