The Cleveland Museum of Art
Collection Online as of April 19, 2024
Black-Glazed Teabowl with Incised Characters (供御) for “Imperial Tribute”
1100s–1200s
(1127-1279)
Overall: 6.5 x 12 cm (2 9/16 x 4 3/4 in.)
Location: not on view
Did You Know?
Jian ware was commonly associated with tea drinking and tasting, as the light color of tea contrasted nicely with the dark glazes of the ceramics.Description
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.- 1970–2008Family of Grace Chu, Hong Kong2008(K.Y. Fine Art, Hong Kong, sold to Mr. and Mrs. Joseph P. Keithley)2008–2020Nancy F. and Joseph P. Keithley, Cleveland, OH, given to the Cleveland Museum of Art2020–The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
- Zhu, Yan 朱琰, Stephen W. Bushell, and François Xavier Dentrecolles. Description of Chinese Pottery and Porcelain; Being a Translation of the Tao Shuo 陶說. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1910.
- Impressionism to Modernism: The Keithley Collection. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (September 11, 2022-January 8, 2023).
- {{cite web|title=Black-Glazed Teabowl with Incised Characters (供御) for “Imperial Tribute”|url=false|author=|year=1100s–1200s|access-date=19 April 2024|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}
Source URL:
https://www.clevelandart.org/art/2020.175