Yue‑Ware Celadon Large Jar with Incised Interlocking Lotus Decoration, Song Dynasty, 10th‑13th Century

拍品描述

Dimensions: Overall height 36 cm (14.17 inches), mouth diameter 24 cm (9.45 inches). Condition and Provenance: This jar retains its original structure intact, with a solid gray-green celadon glaze. Fine, natural crackle patterns of varying depths and natural distribution are found throughout the body, untouched by acid washing or artificial cracking. The thick, wide rim is smooth and intact, without large chips, long cracks, or hidden cracks, showing only slight wear from thousands of years of use. The broad, rounded shoulder and full body are free of any dents, kiln cracks, or signs of later repairs; all multi-layered engraved decorative lines are clear and distinct, without blurring or wear. The lotus petal decoration at the base is three-dimensional, with the glaze at the edges intact. The interior is completely covered with celadon glaze consistent with its original appearance, retaining genuine wheel-throwing spirals, without any signs of later reglazing or surface finishing. The foot rim shows neat trimming marks, and the unglazed clay exhibits natural reddish-brown and grayish-brown tones. The clay substrate is dry and compact, indicating its age. The surface is covered with a natural patina, ancient finishing marks, and slight wear from long-term storage. The outer rim of the foot ring has only a few minor, shallow chips formed during ancient circulation, but these do not affect the main decorative patterns or the vessel's structure. No defects such as drilling, repairs, or component splicing were found. This piece was originally collected by a private collector near the Yue kiln site in the Jiangnan region of eastern Zhejiang. It entered the overseas antique market in the 1990s and is currently held by a private collector of ancient celadon residing in Hong Kong. Hong Kong was a major trading center for porcelain before the Song Dynasty. Description: This large Song Dynasty Yue kiln celadon jar with carved decoration is a rare, heavy vessel that combines storage and display functions, and is extremely rare among similar pieces from that period that have survived to the present day. Its form is robust and powerful, with well-proportioned features: a thick, folded, wide rim gently flares outward, smoothly transitioning to a short, tapering neck; the shoulders are full and rounded; the belly is broad and bulging; the base narrows slightly; and the wide, slightly flared foot gives the piece a stable and elegant appearance, suitable for both everyday storage and display in the living room. The entire piece is covered with a uniform gray-green glaze of moderate thickness, exhibiting a restrained and soft luster rather than a glaring shine. After thousands of years of burial and circulation, the surface naturally develops fine crackles, giving it a rustic and elegant texture. The decorative patterns are arranged with clear horizontal lines, employing a layered carving technique from top to bottom: below the rim is a delicate, shallowly carved scroll pattern, interspersed with simple human figures; the lines are slender and flowing, and the carving depth is precisely controlled. The center of the vessel's body is meticulously carved with a large, intertwined lotus flower. The layered, gracefully unfolding petals, clearly visible veins, and winding veins are all rendered with vigorous, powerful strokes, creating a striking three-dimensional effect through variations in depth. The lowermost decorative band surrounding the base features upward-relief lotus petals with sharp, clear outlines and slightly conical tips, creating a harmonious visual echo with the lotus motif on the body. The lotus flower is a classic auspicious pattern in Song Dynasty ceramics, symbolizing purity and good fortune. The interior is glazed in the same celadon color, with evenly distributed spiral throwing marks on the surface, authentically recording the exquisite craftsmanship of Song Dynasty hand-throwing. The unglazed foot rim reveals a medium-thick, solid clay body, covered with varying lengths of trimming marks and a naturally formed oxide layer, untouched by modern artificial dyeing or polishing. The firing of large Yue ware vessels in the Song Dynasty was technically extremely difficult, as their large size made them prone to deformation or cracking during firing. Today, large, well-preserved, and fully decorated engraved jars are extremely rare. They fully embody the mature and comprehensive craftsmanship of Yue ware from the Song Dynasty, including engraved decoration, glaze formulation, and wheel-throwing. As a standard physical specimen for studying the Yue ware celadon system in the southern Yangtze River region, Song Dynasty folk decorative aesthetics, and the evolution of ancient practical ceramic forms, it also possesses a tranquil and elegant oriental charm, making it highly suitable for professional museums to hold long-term thematic exhibitions on ancient ceramics and a core collection for seasoned antique connoisseurs.

图片