A SMALL 'CIZHOU' STEMCUP JIN/YUAN DYNASTY

the sturdily potted sides of the bowl rising to a lipped rim, covered overall with a creamy white slip and freely painted on the exterior with a continuous floral scroll in a deep chocolate-brown glaze, the foot with two double line bands  

Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Bernat Collection.
Sotheby's New York, 7th November 1980, lot 122. 

Chinese Ceramics of the Song Dynasty, Currier Gallery of Art, Boston, 1959, cat.no. 92.

The Leshantang Collection of Chinese Porcelain, Taipei, 2005, cat.no. 4.

As expected for pieces of this type, there is kiln grit to the interior of the stemcup, and some kiln grit and firing impurities to the base of the foot. Otherwise the stemcup is in good condition overall.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Only a small number of 'Cizhou' stemcups appear to have been preserved due to their delicate shape and tall foot. A stemcup of this form, but painted with a frieze of linear scrolls, from the W. W. Winkworth Collection, was sold in our London rooms, 9^th December 1975, lot 103. Another stemcup of the same shape and size is illustrated in Ireneus Laszlo Legeza, Malcolm Macdonald Collection of Chinese Ceramics, London, 1972, pl. 139; and a third example is published in Ye Peilan, Yuandai ciqi, Beijing, 1999, pl. 355. Compare also a cup, from the Dikran 'Khan' Kelekian Collection, sold in our New York rooms, 20th March 2002, lot 95.