Northern Song Dynasty Cizhou Kiln White-Ground Brown and Iron-Red Painted Covered Meiping Vase with Figural Story Scene (11th–12th Century)

拍品描述

Dimensions: Approximately 23.5 cm high (about 9.3 inches high; about 0.8 feet high) 11th–12th CenturyCondition and Provenance: The vase is in good overall condition, with its original pagoda-shaped cover preserved. The structure remains stable, with a warm glaze surface, natural age-related crackling, and clear painted decoration. The exposed ceramic foot retains the traditional coarse body texture and natural wheel marks characteristic of Song dynasty Cizhou ware. Provenance: Private Collection, Washington State, USAIntroduction: This Northern Song dynasty Cizhou kiln white-ground brown and iron-red painted covered meiping vase is an exceptional example of Cizhou kiln figural decoration. The elegant, slender meiping form was traditionally used for storing wine during the Song dynasty, combining practical function with refined artistic appeal. The vase showcases the distinctive Cizhou kiln technique of painting on a light ground, using brown outlines and iron-red accents to highlight figures, garments, and decorative motifs.The vessel presents a sophisticated arrangement of scrolling floral patterns, figural scenes, and geometric borders. The central narrative panel featuring a traveling figure demonstrates the Song dynasty appreciation for storytelling, natural landscapes, and expressive human details. With its balanced composition and lively decorative style, this piece represents the creativity and artistic achievement of northern Chinese folk ceramics.Description: This meiping vase has an elegant and slender profile, representing a classic Cizhou kiln wine vessel. It retains its original pagoda-shaped cover, creating a complete and harmonious presentation. The vase features a small mouth, short neck, broad shoulder, gradually narrowing body, and slightly flared foot, with well-balanced and graceful proportions.The multi-tiered cover is richly decorated with scrolling floral patterns. Fine brown lines define the veins and contours of the flowers and leaves, with touches of iron-red decoration adding depth and contrast. The cover rim is finished with double horizontal bands, creating a clearly organized decorative structure. The shoulder of the vase is covered with continuous floral scrollwork, echoing the design of the cover above.The main body features multiple ruyi-shaped framed panels containing a figural traveling scene. The figure wears a soft cap and a red-painted robe, carrying a long staff while walking through a landscape. Surrounding elements include auspicious clouds, rocks, plants, fences, and distant mountains, creating a complete narrative composition. The figure is rendered with a lively expression, while the flowing garment lines demonstrate the skilled brushwork of Cizhou kiln artisans.The vase is covered with an ivory-colored ground glaze with natural crackling. Brown pigment outlines the decoration, while iron-red accents highlight clothing and cloud motifs, creating an elegant and restrained color palette. The decoration is carefully divided by multiple horizontal bands, progressing from floral designs on the cover, to scrolling floral patterns on the shoulder, to the figural story panels on the body, and finally to the chrysanthemum petal border near the base. The exposed coarse ceramic foot retains its original craftsmanship and wheel marks. With its complete form, narrative imagery, and distinctive Cizhou kiln style, this vase is a rare and important example of Song dynasty painted covered meiping vessels.

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