Stem cup
Category
Ceramics
Date
1700 - 1710
Materials
porcelain, underglaze cobalt blue
Measurements
70 mm (Height); 68 mm (Diameter)
Place of origin
Jingdezhen
Order this imageCollection
Wallington, Northumberland
NT 581774
Summary
Stem cup, porcelain, the bowl shaped cup raised on a flaring hollow stem, made in Jingdezhen, Jiangxi province, China, c. 1700-1710; decorated in underglaze cobalt blue, painted around the bowl with courtly women holding osmanthus sprigs (Osmanthus fragrans), a scented plant associated with passing of the Imperial examinations, in a garden, the stem insects, the bowl with a single figure, blue line bands.
Full description
To "pluck osmanthus in the Toad Palace" was a refined paraphrase for "passing the exam". The cup may have been part of a set presented to a successful candidate, or to inspire them to succeed.
Provenance
Gift from Sir Charles Philips Trevelyan 3rd Bt