A white-ware bowl stand
北宋或遼 十世紀 白瓷盞托
The cupstand is finely potted with a lipped flat-topped dome-shaped central holder decorated around its sides with numerous vertical feathery-looking petal-like elements, each with a central ridge, striations off to left and right, and a small circular indentation at the top. The holder sits in a recess in the centre of the stand, encircled by the wide shallow curved flange notched into six lobes at the rim. The raised foot is slightly splayed. The vessel is applied overall with a bright clear creamy-white glaze pooling to a bluish-grey colour in some areas, leaving the underside unglazed and with a small aperture in the centre for firing expansion.
Exhibited:
Priestley & Ferraro, 'Song Ceramics and Works of Art', London, 2017, cat. no. 14
A bowl stand of the same unusual form, together with a plain lobed cup, was excavated from the tomb of Yelü Yanning (946–985) in Chaoyang, Liaoning province, illustrated in Song, Liao, Jin Jinian Ciqi., no. 4-14, p. 70. The tomb is dated Tonghe 4th year, 986 AD. The Yelü were the royal clan of the Khitans, and it was from their ranks that all Liao emperors came. Another bowl stand and bowl of this type was excavated from a Northern Song tomb at Kangyadi village, Huangling County, Shaanxi, illustrated in Complete Collection of Ceramic Art Unearthed in China, 15, Shaanxi, no.120, p.120.
The feathery-petal decoration is very distinctive; it appears to reference some plant seed pod whose identity has been lost.
Dimensions: Diameter: 13.5 cm, 4 ¼ inches
Date: Early Northern Song or Liao dynasty, late 10th century
Stock No. 2164
Price: On Request