The master lacquer artist, Zhang Chen, from the district of Xitang in Jiaxing, was active during the late Yuan/early Ming period. He was first mentioned together with contemporary lacquer artist, Yang Mao, in the connoisseur's handbook Gegu Yaolun (1388), translated by Sir Percival David, Chinese Connoisseurship, London, 1971.

Compare the present lot with two other tixi lacquer cupstands made by Zhang Chen, one of identical decoration in black lacquer and the other in red lacquer with a floral-shaped flange, illustrated in Karamono, Imported Lacquerwork - Chinese, Korean and Ryukyuan (Okinawa), Selections from the Tokugawa Art Museum, No. 2, 1997, p. 15, figs. 9 and 8 respectively.