Asian Arts | Associations | Articles | Exhibitions | Galleries | Message Board

I recently purchased this cup while in Nepal. I bought from a Tibetan lady living outside Pokhara in one of the refugee settlements. It was rust brown colored and I washed it up just thinking it was an old butter tea cup. It came out to be this great celadon piece that has what looks to be a Xuande marking on the bottom. It has some irregularities in its shape and has been well used. The lady said it was her mother's cup and wanted to know why I would want it... I liked it! Any help would be much appreciated. I don't have any delusions on this being 15th century, just some insight would be awesome. thanks,
Chris



Link : images

The markings seem to xuande, but I can't find similar pieces in the period.

This appears to be a 20th century Chinese bowl because the photos show bleeding or flow of the pigment around one of the marks, a clue suggesting decoration by printed transfers. This type of technology didn't come into use in China on a commercial scale until the early 20th century.

There is nothing uniquely Tibetan in the characters comprising the bowl's decoration. They are Chinese and auspicious in nature, consisting of various forms of "shou" (long life) and other happy blessings if I read them correctly. I see nothing obvious in Tibetan script.

The bowl coudn't be Xuande period, because the "De" character on the bowl has a horizontal stroke over the heart radical that wasn't used during that Ming reign.

Best regards,

Bill H.

Asian Arts | Associations | Articles | Exhibitions | Galleries | Message Board