Cup with ring handle

Object Details

• Description

  Small cup with ring handle. Pear-shaped wheel-formed cup with flat base, curving in to contracted neck and thin everted rim. Molded circular handle positioned on shoulder over molded palmetto-shaped boss. Heavy for its size.

  Clay: porcelain, very fine, creamy-white.

  Glaze: transparent, slightly ivory-toned, uneven in thickness, somewhat decomposed. Ends over unglazed foot.

• Provenance

  To 1982

  Helen Dalling Ling (d. 1982), Shanghai and Singapore. [1]

  From 1982 to 1984

  Dr. Tien Gi Ling, Singapore, by bequest from his wife, Helen Dalling Ling in May 1982. [2]

  From 1984

  Freer Gallery of Art, purchased from Dr. Tien Gi Ling, Singapore. [3]

  Notes:

  [1] According to Dr. Tien Gi Ling, this object was in Mrs. Helen D. Ling’s general collection and was probably acquired in Singapore. Also see Curatorial Remark 5 in the object record.

  [2] Helen Dalling Ling left a bequest to her husband, Dr. Tien Gi Ling on May 1982.

  [3] Freer Gallery of Art Purchase List after 1920 file, Collections Management Office.

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Luxury Arts of the Silk Route Empires (May 9, 1993 to January 28, 2007)

• Previous custodian or owner

  Helen D. Ling (1901-1982)

  Mr. Tien Gi Ling

• Origin

  Henan province, China

• Credit Line

  Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment

• Type

  Vessel

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

  There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page.

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  800s, 700s

• Name

  Ling, Tien Gi, Ling, Helen D.

• Place

  China, Henan province

• Topic

  Porcelain, Art, Chinese Art, Tang dynasty (618 - 907), Ceramics

• Culture

  Chinese

• Object Type

  Vessels (containers)