Handled Cup
Tang dynasty (618–907)
Medium
Slip-coated and glazed stoneware
Dimensions
4.8 × 8.5 cm (1 7/8 × 3 3/8 in.); Diam.: 8.5 cm (3 3/8 in.)
Classification
drinking vessel
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
86510
Art Historical Context
This delicate handled cup, crafted during China's Tang dynasty (618–907), the era's remarkable advancements in ceramics. Measuring just4.8 × 8. cm, this small stoneware drinking vessel likely used for tea or, reflecting the Tang's culture influenced by Silk Road trade. The dynasty's golden age fostered artistic innovation, with potters producing durable, elegant wares that blended functionality with subtle beauty for daily life among the elite. The cup's slip-coated and glazed surface highlights sophisticated techniques: a layer of liquid clay slip was applied before the glaze firing, creatin...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...