Lot 111B
East Asia, China, Warring States Period to early Han Dynasty, ca. 475 BCE to 43 CE. A extremely rare example of a wooden ear cup (known as "erbei") of an ovoid form covered in black and red lacquer. The flat-bottomed cup has gently expanding walls which taper towards the top and create the thin rim from which a pair of semicircular "ear" handles project. The handles and upper rim of the bowl are decorated with yellow, powder blue, crimson, and cream hues which create swirling, linear, and spotted motifs that are sealed with clear lacquer and are mirrored on both lengthwise halves. Cups like this example were heavily employed by the Chu peoples and were traditionally used for drinking wine, and the purpose of the handles was to provide stability so that none of the liquid was spilled. Many ear cups were shaped from stone or pottery, so an intact wooden example like this is exceedingly rare! Size: 6.375" L x 5" W x 2.5" H (16.2 cm x 12.7 cm x 6.4 cm).
For a stylistically-similar example from the Warring States period, please see The Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession number 1974.268.4: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/44788
Provenance: private Vero Beach, Florida, USA collection; ex-private old English collection
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#143703
- Condition: Minor nicks and abrasions to handles, base, and bowl, with wear to lacquer commensurate with age, a couple of stable pressure fissures, and light fading to some colored areas, otherwise intact and excellent. Light earthen deposits as well as wonderful traces of original glaze and pigmentation throughout.
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