Jin Dynasty Yue Kiln Celadon Glazed Mythical Beast Bixie Water Dropper

拍品描述

Dimensions: 9.5 cm (3.74 in) in length, 8 cm (3.15 in) in height, 3rd-5th century AD. Condition and Provenance: The entire piece is made in one piece, without cracks, damage, or missing shards. The body of the mythical beast and the slip-filled spout on its back are intact. Most of the celadon glaze is well preserved, covered with natural, fine crackles, and retains the original yellowish-brown soil stains on the surface, showing no signs of artificial acid washing or pigment dyeing. The details of the beast's face, spiral mane, and claws are clear and complete, without any missing parts or edge damage. The small cylindrical slip-filled spout on its back is intact. The unglazed base exposes dry clay, showing only natural wear from burial, without any signs of polishing, repair, or alteration. This piece was passed down from a Hong Kong collector and later acquired by a private antique celadon expert residing in Miami, Florida, USA. Description: This celadon teardrop-shaped vessel is shaped like the mythical beast Bixie. It was fired in the Yue kiln during the Jin Dynasty and is a classic porcelain stationery item for ancient literati, representing the high antiquity of celadon from the Jiangnan region during the Six Dynasties period. The vessel is formed from a single piece of porcelain clay, covered entirely in a soft gray-green Yue kiln glaze, giving it a simple and elegant appearance. Over thousands of years, the surface has developed natural, dense crackle patterns, a typical characteristic of early Chinese celadon. The vessel depicts Bixie in a crouching posture, its limbs curled beneath its rounded body, its head slightly raised, its ears clearly defined, and two small horns on its forehead. The soft, simple facial lines embody the simple and elegant sculptural aesthetics of the Jin Dynasty. Layered, cloud-like mane carvings encircle the beast's neck and back, with smooth, rounded lines; the claws on its limbs are finely and realistically carved; and its small, curled tail curls at its side, giving the beast a vivid and natural posture. A short, cylindrical inkwell stands upright on the center of the mythical beast's back. The narrow opening holds water, which flows from a nozzle hidden in the beast's mouth—a design specifically for ancient scholars to add water when studying ink. This piece perfectly blends the practical function of writing with the auspicious cultural symbolism of the mythical beast—a creature believed to ward off evil and bring forth a flow of inspiration. The unglazed base reveals the characteristic grayish-white coarse earthenware body of the Yue kiln, naturally dried after years of underground burial, with soil traces seeping deep into the glaze, untouched by any modern artificial aging treatment. Since ancient times, the mythical beast has symbolized protection of the home and wisdom; in the Jin Dynasty, celadon mythical beast water droppers were exclusive stationery items for literati. Well-preserved Yue kiln mythical beast water droppers with intact glaze, original crackles, and natural patina are extremely rare in today's antique market. It perfectly preserves the pottery-making techniques of the Jin Yue Kiln, including clay sculpting, glazing, and carving, providing extremely high material research value for studying the form of Jiangnan celadon stationery from the Six Dynasties period and ancient ceramic carving art. At the same time, it is also a high-end stationery item coveted by early porcelain collectors worldwide, possessing extremely high value for display, collection, and academic research.

图片