Korean Joseon White Porcelain Rice Cake Stand Used as Japanese Tea Ceremony

This piece is a small white porcelain stand from the late Joseon Dynasty, originally used as a rice cake stand (tteok-son /餅置き). It features the quiet, understated beauty characteristic of Korean white porcelain and reflects the everyday aesthetics of Korean folk culture of the time.

The stand is made of warm-toned white porcelain with four characters painted in soft blue underglaze. Its gentle milky-white glaze, hand-shaped form, and simple brushwork embody the essential charm of late Joseon ceramics. Small white porcelain pieces like this were widely used as daily utensils and hold an important place in the history of East Asian ceramics.

From the Edo to Meiji period, Japanese tea practitioners began to appreciate such Korean objects, and many Joseon cake stands were reinterpreted and used as “futaoki” (lid rests) in the Japanese tea ceremony. With its compact raised form and minimal design, this piece is also well suited for use as a tea ceremony utensil today.

It can be used as an interior display item, a tea utensils accessory, a desk ornament, or as part of an East Asian ceramic collection.

Size

Diameter: 6.5cm / 2.55 inches
Height: 4cm / 1.57 inches
Weight: 110g

Condition
There is some surface soiling and age-related wear, but the piece remains in good antique condition overall.

There is a very slight hairline-like mark on the back, but it does not reach through the body. It appears on the very thin layer of glaze and is not considered a flaw.
In the same area, there is also some residue, but upon inspection with a 20× loupe, small stone-like particles can be seen, indicating that it was likely formed during production. (Image 10,12)