This large pottery tray with five wine cups was made during the Tang Dynasty (AD 618 - 906). Made from a pale pottery, the tray and cups are partially coated with three-colour ("sancai") glazes, brown, green and straw, that have run into each other and are very finely-crackled. The cups were fired in-situ on the tray and at least one of the cups became fused to the tray by its glaze during firing resulting in chips to its base and the edge of the tray. The glaze covers just the inner and outer walls of the tray yet covers both inner and outer surfaces of the cups. To the base of the cups are the cord marks of them being removed from the potter's wheel. The colour of the face of the tray suggests that ten such cups were originally fired in-situ, which is an unusually large number for such a set. Whether or not all ten cups were originally intended to be kept with this tray, or whether some were intended for other uses we do not know, but only five of these cups now survive with this tray. 

Please note that these are the original cups for this particular tray, NOT cups from elsewhere that have been "married" to the tray as is so often the case with such pieces offered for sale.

Diameter of tray 26 cm (10.25 inches), diameter of each cup 6 cm (2.25 inches). There are minor kiln scars in places, and the edge of the tray has three small chips to its edge and a larger chip, as is mentioned above. There is also a chip to the edge and base of the cup that led to the tray becoming damaged during manufacture. No repair or restoration; a nice set in very good condition.

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