cup-stand BM-1967-0216.1

Period:Yuan dynasty Production date:1260-1368
Materials:wood, lacquer,
Technique:carved, lacquered,

Dimensions:Diameter: 16 centimetres Height: 6.20 centimetres

Description:
Cup-stand covered in black, red and yellow lacquer and carved with ‘guri’ scrolls.
IMG


Comments:Rawson 1992:Carved lacquer was first decorated with the so-called ‘guri’ pattern (a Japanese word used to describe a heart-shaped, geometric scroll pattern; ‘tixi’ in Chinese). These scrolls were cut with a deep V-shaped profile through alternate layers of different-coloured lacquer (black, red, yellow), and dishes, boxes, trays and bowl and cup stands were all produced. This technique seems to have developed by the time of the Song dynasty, as items of ‘guri’ carved lacquer, such as a mirror-box, fan-handles and boxes, have been excavated from Song tombs. The undulating surface created by the design and the deep cutting seem to imitate silver designs of the period. This cup-stand would have been used to hold a porcelain tea-bowl.