Title:Wine Cup with StandArtist:Artist UnknownDate:Southern Sung dynastyCreation Place:Asia, ChinaCredit Line:Gift of funds from the Asian Art CouncilAccession Number:98.216a,b The Sung dynasty (960-1279) saw a tremendous increase in the production of fine, white stoneware and porcelain began to be made in kilns throughout north and south China. The most important group of southern white ware came from the Ching-te-chen kilns in Kiangsi province. Known as Ch'ing-pai (bluish-white), it had a fine, white paste and was wood-fired in a reducing atmosphere. Totally lacking decoration, this thin-walled wine cup and accompanying saucer-stand rely entirely on purity of form and color for their aesthetic impact. Although the best Ch'ing-pai ceramics were light, elegant, and thin-walled with translucent gemlike, blue-tinted glaze, the ware was not greatly appreciated by the Chinese court.