Images(3)

Covered Cup

Datelate 19th-early 20th century

MediumWheel-thrown hard paste porcelain with underglaze cobalt blue decoration

DimensionsComponent (height x diameter of cup): 2 1/4 x 4 1/8in. (5.7 x 10.5cm) Component (height x diameter of cover): 1 1/8 x 3 5/8in. (2.9 x 9.2cm)

ClassificationsCeramics

Credit LineBequest of George Dudley Seymour

Object number1945.1.1449a-b

DescriptionRound, handleless, Chinese hard paste porcelain cup with cover. The cup and cover are hand-painted in underglaze cobalt blue in floral and geometric patterns. The outside of the cup and cover are decorated with the same pattern of various large and small flowers. The inside of the cup and cover are decorated with the same series of borders surrounding a simple multi-petaled flower on the bottom. This is surrounded by a border of two thin blue lines, followed by a geometric border at the rim. Imperfections in the glaze appear as slight blemishes on the bottom inside of the cup.

NotesObject Note: This covered cup may have originally come with a separate saucer. If this was the case, the cover may have been used as a cup plate. Typically, a cup plate was used after a tea drinker poured tea from a teacup into a saucer, to allow the tea to cool before drinking. The tea drinker would then place the cup on a cup plate, thereby preventing rings from forming on the tablecloth or table while the saucer was otherwise occupied. (Hunt 9/15/2004)

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