Collection record · Objects & craft
Black-Glazed Teabowl with Incised Characters (供御) for “Imperial Tribute”
The collection record classifies this work as ceramic. It is dated 1100s–1200s. Recorded culture or place: China, Fujian Province, Southern Song dynasty (1127-1279).
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A closer look at the details.
- Museum title
- Black-Glazed Teabowl with Incised Characters (供御) for “Imperial Tribute”
- Date
- 1100s–1200s
- Culture / origin
- China, Fujian Province, Southern Song dynasty (1127-1279)
- Materials and technique
- Brown-glazed stoneware, Jian ware
- Dimensions
- Overall: 6.5 x 12 cm (2 9/16 x 4 3/4 in.)
- Artist / maker
- Not specified by the museum
- Museum
- The Cleveland Museum of Art
- Accession number
- 2020.175
FROM THE MUSEUM
In the museum’s words
The following description is reproduced from the Cleveland Museum of Art’s original English record.
Teabowls with incised characters are rare. The characters 供御 (gongyu; “imperial tribute”) incised on the base of this bowl suggest that it was local annual tribute ware presented to the court. The abrasions on its rim indicate the cup was originally mounted with a metal ring that has been removed. Teacups, occasionally dressed with metal bands to cover the rough, thinly glazed lip, enhanced the experience of tasting tea and rendered the bowl more precious and appealing. When steeped tea leaves were introduced in China, dark-glazed bowls fell out of favor, but such bowls continued to be treasured in Japan where powdered tea (matcha) remained popular.
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Text and image sources
The Cleveland Museum of Art · Nancy F. and Joseph P. Keithley Collection Gift · CC0
The summary is based on public collection data. Refer to the museum’s latest record for the title, date and attribution.
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