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Large cup with globular body, cylindrical neck and twisted-vine handle

Korean

Artwork Details

Large cup with globular body, cylindrical neck and twisted-vine handle
5th century
Korean
stoneware
4 3/16 x 4 1/16 x 4 1/16 in. (10.5 x 10.2 x 10.2 cm)
Gift of Bruce and Inta Hasenkamp and Museum purchase made possible by Elder and Mrs. Sang-Yong Nam
2004/1.192

Description

Single-handled cups were made in Silla in a wide variety of shapes, with both plain and twisted handles. To our eyes, they look like modern coffee mugs, but their actual function is unknown.
Maribeth Graybill, The Enduring Art of the Korean Potter, December 12, 2004-November 6, 2005

Subject Matter:

This type of grayish-blue stoneware cup is commonly excavated from the tombs of Three kingdoms period (Gaya period) 5th century.

Physical Description:

It has a flat base, globular body and straight neck. Two narrow ridges encircle the body and a ridge encircles between the body and neck. The attached handle is a little small and get twisted.

This is a dark gray, low-fired stoneware cup with a handle. The almost-upright mouth gently inclines inwards, and the rim has a narrow, slightly rounded edge. Separated from the mouth by a horizontal ridge, the body is widest at its upper-central part. Two horizontal ridges encircle the body of the cup where the body is at its widest. The lower part of the body has been pared twice at different angles during rotation.

[Korean Collection, University of Michigan Museum of Art (2017) p. 70]

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