A BROWN LACQUER CIRCULAR BOWL STAND, ZHANTUO
A BROWN LACQUER CIRCULAR BOWL STAND, ZHANTUO

SONG DYNASTY (AD 960-1279)

Details
A BROWN LACQUER CIRCULAR BOWL STAND, ZHANTUO
SONG DYNASTY (AD 960-1279)
The cup stand has a hollow, splayed circular foot, supporting a circular flange with gently upturned edges, encircling the plain globular receptacle that rises to an incurved rim, the whole covered with lacquer of rich brownish-black color. The rims are bound with metal.
6 in. (15 cm.) wide

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Michael Bass
Michael Bass

Lot Essay

The function of the bowl stand is very similar to that of a saucer. As steaming bowls of tea had no handles, they were placed on stands when served, so as not to burn the fingers of the recipient, and also to provide a stable support for bowls, which often have narrow bases. A related example of a plain brown lacquer bowl stand, supported on a slightly higher foot ring, from the Yixing district, Jiangsu province, is illustrated in Zhongguo Meishu Quanji, vol. 8, Lacquerware, Beijing, 1989, no. 93.

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