Cup

Physical description

A Yixing stoneware cup, the exterior encased in pewter and the interior glazed to a light blue colour which makes a pleasing contrast with the metallic sheen of pewter. The handle is fitted with jade. Below the rim is engraved the following inscription in running script and a signature:

Filled with the five [wines] and three [alcohol] the taste is mellow like a Confucian scholar. Zhu An.

Encasing a stoneware ewer or cup in pewter was a novel way of production introduced in the early 19th century. Due to the high content of lead (about 50%) Chinese pewter is very soft, making it a suitable material on which a scholar could easily exercise his carving knife.

According to the Zhouli (Rites of Zhou) the wu ji (five grades of wines) and san jiu (three types of alcohol) were to be consumed for different purposes and on different occasions. By the 19th century these rules were no longer observed. The owner of the cup made this reference to show that he was well versed in the classics.

Although most Yixing wares were made for tea-drinking the inscription on the present cup indicates that it is a wine cup.

Place of Origin

Yixing, China (made)

Date

ca. 1820-1870 (made)

Artist/maker

Unknown (production)

Materials and Techniques

Stoneware and pewter

Marks and inscriptions

Below the rim is engraved the following inscription in running script and a signature: Filled with the five [wines] and three [alcohol] the taste is mellow like a Confucian scholar. Zhu An.

Dimensions

Height: 3.1 cm, Diameter: 6.5 cm

Descriptive line

Yixing ware. Cup, glazed stoneware with pewter exterior; China (Yixing), Qing dynasty, ca. 1820-1870

Exhibition History

Rare Marks on Chinese Ceramics (19/11/1998-28/05/1999)

Materials

Stoneware; Pewter

Techniques

Glazed

Categories

Ceramics; Drinking; Stoneware

Collection code

EAS