This finely potted black-glazed cup is a striking example of Yuan dynasty Cizhou-type stoneware, notable for its lustrous oil-spot glaze and bold sculptural form. The vessel has a rounded compressed body rising to a gently flared rim, its elegant silhouette enhanced by the thick, richly textured black glaze covering the exterior and interior surfaces.
The glaze displays an attractive oil-spot effect, created through the complex interaction of iron-rich glaze and kiln atmosphere during high-temperature firing. Across the glossy black surface appear countless silvery metallic speckles that shimmer subtly under light, recalling the appearance of scattered oil droplets. This distinctive effect reflects the technical sophistication and experimental spirit of northern Chinese kilns during the Yuan dynasty.
The slightly uneven, hammered-like glaze texture further enhances the tactile quality of the piece, while the exposed foot reveals the pale buff stoneware body beneath. Black-glazed wares of this type were admired for their dramatic visual contrast, robust forms, and rich glaze effects, embodying the powerful aesthetic associated with Yuan dynasty ceramics.
Displayed here upon a carved wooden stand, the cup possesses a quiet yet commanding presence, combining simplicity of form with the dynamic beauty of its oil-spot glaze.
Width: 8.5 cm.
Height: 5.5 cm.
Provenance:
Private Taiwanese collection.
Exhibited:
Splendor of China – Song and Yuan Porcelain, National Museum of History, Taipei, 2008.
Published:
Cheng Qiren, Splendor of China – Song and Yuan Porcelain, Taipei: National Museum of History, 2008, catalogue no. 54, exhibition no. 138, pp. 138–139.
This finely potted black-glazed cup is a striking example of Yuan dynasty Cizhou-type stoneware, notable for its lustrous oil-spot glaze and bold sculptural form. The vessel has a rounded compressed body rising to a gently flared rim, its elegant silhouette enhanced by the thick, richly textured black glaze covering the exterior and interior surfaces.
The glaze displays an attractive oil-spot effect, created through the complex interaction of iron-rich glaze and kiln atmosphere during high-temperature firing. Across the glossy black surface appear countless silvery metallic speckles that shimmer subtly under light, recalling the appearance of scattered oil droplets. This distinctive effect reflects the technical sophistication and experimental spirit of northern Chinese kilns during the Yuan dynasty.
The slightly uneven, hammered-like glaze texture further enhances the tactile quality of the piece, while the exposed foot reveals the pale buff stoneware body beneath. Black-glazed wares of this type were admired for their dramatic visual contrast, robust forms, and rich glaze effects, embodying the powerful aesthetic associated with Yuan dynasty ceramics.
Displayed here upon a carved wooden stand, the cup possesses a quiet yet commanding presence, combining simplicity of form with the dynamic beauty of its oil-spot glaze.
Width: 8.5 cm.
Height: 5.5 cm.
Provenance:
Private Taiwanese collection.
Exhibited:
Splendor of China – Song and Yuan Porcelain, National Museum of History, Taipei, 2008.
Published:
Cheng Qiren, Splendor of China – Song and Yuan Porcelain, Taipei: National Museum of History, 2008, catalogue no. 54, exhibition no. 138, pp. 138–139.
