Page 264 - CHRISTIE'S Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art 09/14 - 15 / 17

1149 1149
A NORTHERN WHITE-WARE CUP STAND

NORTHERN SONG DYNASTY (AD 960-1127)
The cup stand is potted in the form of an inverted
cup surmounting a circular dish with everted rim
supported on a slightly splayed foot with three
cloud-shaped openings all covered with a fnely
crackled translucent glaze.
5Ω in. (14 cm.) diam., cloth box

$8,000-12,000

The function of the cup stand is very similar
to that of a saucer. As the 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.
北宋 白釉盞托

1150
A NORTHERN WHITE-WARE LOBED JAR

NORTHERN SONG DYNASTY (AD 960-1127)
The sides are divided into seven lobes below a
short neck and fared, rolled rim and the jar is
covered overall with a clear glaze over a white slip,
except for the fared, knife-trimmed foot and the
base, which are covered with a white slip only.
4Ω in. (11.5 cm.) wide, cloth box

$10,000-15,000

Compare a similar but smaller (9.3 cm.)
Northern white-ware lobed jar in the Francisco
Capelo Collection, dated to Five Dynasties, and
illustrated by Capelo et al. in Forms of pleasure:
Chinese ceramics from burial to daily life, London,
2009, p. 84-5, pl. 28.
北宋 白釉瓜棱罐

1150

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