Thin, lustrous black pottery was made by Neolithic cultures of the Dawenkou and Longshan phases in the area of present-day Shandong province in northeastern China. Compare with a very similar stem cup unearthed at Sanlihe, Jiao County, Shandong in 1975, illustrated in the Museum of Chinese History Catalogue, 1980, p. 6. Compare, also, a lidded stem cup in the Linyi City Museum, illustrated by Liu Liangyu, Zhongguo lidai taoci jianshang, p. 52

A slightly larger black pottery stem cup, also with a pierced baluster stem, was sold in these rooms June 2, 1994, lot 229. A slightly smaller example was sold in these rooms December 2, 1993, lot 205

The result of Oxford thermoluminescence test no. 666w37 is consistent with the dating of this lot