A CARVED LONGQUAN CELADON STEM CUP

The flared stem of this stem cup is divided into three sections by horizontal ribs in imitation of a stalk of bamboo. As noted by J. Harrison-Hall in Ming Ceramics in the British Museum, London, 2001, p. 463, “bamboo is assigned Confucian qualities which are much admired in a man – it does not break under pressure, and is constant, never losing its colour even in adverse conditions.” Harrison-Hall illustrates, pp. 463-64, nos. 16:2-16:5, four Longquan celadon stem cups with similar “bamboo” stems, all of which are dated Yuan to Ming dynasty, c. 1300-1400. The bowls of the stem cups illustrated by Harrison-Hall, however, are all plain, unlike the bowl of the current stem cup which is carved with petal lappets.