Lot 1149. A Northern white-ware cup stand, Northern Song dynasty (AD 960-1127); 5 ½ in. (14 cm.) diam. Estimate USD 8,000 - USD 12,000. Unsold. © Christie's Images Ltd 2017

The cup stand is potted in the form of an inverted cup surmounting a circular dish with everted rim supported on a slightly splayed foot with three cloud-shaped openings all covered with a finely crackled translucent glaze, cloth box.

Note: The function of the cup stand is very similar to that of a saucer. As the steaming cups and bowls of tea have no handles, they are placed on stands when served or passed around, so as not to burn the fingers. In addition, they had a decorative purpose and were used as part of the presentation of the tea ceremony. In the Zu xia lu (Record of Leisurely Enjoyment) the 9th century author Li Kuangyi states that the first bowl stands were made in the Jianzong reign (AD 780-83). However, the earliest bowl stand excavated to date comes from a Jin dynasty tomb in Changsha, Hunan province. Certainly by the Song dynasty bowl stands were very popular in both lacquer and ceramics. 

Christie's. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, 14 - 15 September 2017, New York