Cupstand with Circular Rim and Russet Glaze
probably 11th century
Description
In profile, this elegant cupstand resembles a small bowl resting on a high-footed saucer. Of circular form, the saucer portion sits on a tall, hollow, circular foot that is lightly splayed. The alms-bowl-shaped receptacle rises from the center of the saucer, its walls turning in delicately at the mouth. Although the receptacle was turned without a floor, the top of the saucer, to which it is fused, effectively closes the opening at the bottom of the receptacle so that is walls do not flow directly into the hollow footring. Semilustrous and slightly variegated, a russet-surfaced, dark brown glaze covers the entire piece, including the interior of the receptacle as well as the base and the inside of the footring; only the bottom of the footring was left unglazed. The receptacle and the saucer were separately turned on the potter's wheel and then luted together after drying. The glaze was applied by dipping, the smudges on the footring documenting the points where the potter held the piece while applying the glaze. The cupstand was fired right side up, standing on its own footring. A new, Chinese, red-fabric-covered storage box accompanies this piece.
Dimensions
H. 6.9 x Diam. 12.7 cm (2 11/16 x 5 in.)
Provenance
Edward T. Chow, Geneva, Switzerland (1930s-1950s); Ruth Dreyfus, London (1950s-1969); Arthur M. Sackler (1969-1994); [Christie's, New York, December 1994], sold; to Marvin and Pat Gordon, San Franciso (1994-2009); [J.J. Lally & Co., New York, 2009], sold; to Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Harvard University, 2009. Note: Edward T. Chow (1910-1980); Arthur M. Sackler (1913-1987)
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