A Cizhou-type ware cup, fired during the Yuan dynasty. A transparent glaze has been applied over a slipped body, producing a soft, cream-coloured surface. At the centre of the well appears a single iron-painted motif, ambiguous between character and image; when filled with wine, it takes on the appearance of a fish drifting beneath the water’s surface. The piece embodies the playful and unpretentious spirit characteristic of Cizhou folk wares.

The line resembling a hairline crack is in fact a firing flaw and does not extend through to the reverse. Apart from this, there are no notable defects, and the condition is excellent.