Custard Cups
MakerMade by
Unknown
Datemid 19th century
MediumWheel-thrown Chinese export porcelain with underglaze cobalt blue decoration
DimensionsComponent (height with lid x width with handle x depth of .1, .2, .3 ): 3 3/8 x 3 1/2 x 2 3/4in. (8.6 x 8.9cm, 2 3/4in.)
Component (height with lid x width with handle x depth .4, .5, .6, .7): 3 3/4 x 3 3/4 x 2 5/8in. (9.5 x 9.5cm, 2 5/8in.)
ClassificationsCeramics
Credit LineBequest of George Dudley Seymour
Object number1945.1.1403.1a,b-.7a,b
DescriptionWheel-thrown Chinese export porcelain custard cups with hand-painted underglaze cobalt blue decoration showing a Chinese landscape; the custard cups are a type of Chinese export porcelain known as Cantonware. The central Chinese landscape shows a willow tree and Chinese structure to the right. A river with a Chinese junk runs through the landscape, with a bridge in the foreground and houses, hills, and mountains in the distance. The landscape can be found on all sides of the cups. The custard cups (.a) have a handle made up of two pieces of pulled porcelain that have been twisted and applied to the body. A cluster of flowers with cobalt blue underglaze decoration has been applied where the handle and the body of the cup meet. Imperfections in the porcelain appear as black dots on the surface of both the cups and lids.
Custard Cups (.1-.3a,b): The lids of the first three custard cups have a series of concentric borders surrounding a landscape of water, boats, and mountains in the distance. The first border is the "Canton" border, consisting of a scalloped line with parallel lines of hatching running inside. This is surrounded by a line of blue with darker lines creating stars inside. The lids each have a molded and applied finial.
Custard Cups (.4-.7a,b): The lids of the last four custard cups have two borders surrounding a landscape of water, boats, and mountains in the distance. The first border is the "Nanking" border, consisting of a series of widely spaced lines, alternating between a thin line and a small arrow. The second border, at the rim of the lid, is a line of blue, with darker lines creating stars inside. The lids each have a molded and applied finial. One of the custard cups (.7a,b) has a small hairline crack running from the rim halfway down the body of the cup.
Custard Cups (.1-.3a,b): The lids of the first three custard cups have a series of concentric borders surrounding a landscape of water, boats, and mountains in the distance. The first border is the "Canton" border, consisting of a scalloped line with parallel lines of hatching running inside. This is surrounded by a line of blue with darker lines creating stars inside. The lids each have a molded and applied finial.
Custard Cups (.4-.7a,b): The lids of the last four custard cups have two borders surrounding a landscape of water, boats, and mountains in the distance. The first border is the "Nanking" border, consisting of a series of widely spaced lines, alternating between a thin line and a small arrow. The second border, at the rim of the lid, is a line of blue, with darker lines creating stars inside. The lids each have a molded and applied finial. One of the custard cups (.7a,b) has a small hairline crack running from the rim halfway down the body of the cup.
Status
Not on view
