Accession Number
1982/2.2

Title
Cup

Artist(s)
Chinese

Artist Nationality
Chinese (culture or style)

Object Creation Date
1368-1644

Medium & Support
stoneware with glaze

Dimensions
2 7/16 in x 3 15/16 in x 3 15/16 in (6.2 cm x 10 cm x 10 cm)

Credit Line
Gift of Mr. F. Karel Wiest

Subject matter
A guan-type (官) official ware cup of the Ming dynasty (1368-1644).

The Guan kiln was the official kiln for producing court wares during the Song dynasty (960-1279,) however its location is still unknown, but is thought to be in Zhejiang province. It is characterized by having a crackle celadon finish over a dark stoneware body and having the character guan (官) or official marked on the base. This style of ware was greatly prized among scholars for its simplistic elegance and has been mentioned in several important Ming dynasty texts on conoisseurship. The kilns of the later Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties at Jingdezhen have all copied guan ware, and it is still among the most highly prized wares today.

Physical Description
A stoneware, bowl-shaped cup on a tall foot ring with an articulated five-lobed rim. It is covered in a crackled celadon glaze. 

Primary Object Classification
Ceramic

Primary Object Type
cup

Collection Area
Asian

Rights
If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit http://umma.umich.edu/request-image for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form. Keywords
ceramic (material)
cups
cups (drinking vessels)
stoneware (pottery)
tea bowls