Song Dynasty Xiuneisi Guan‑ware Off‑White Melon‑Rib Ewer With Bird‑Shaped Knob, Song Dynasty 960‑1279 CE

拍品描述

Dimensions: Maximum width 17 cm (6.69 inches), total height 12.5 cm (4.92 inches), Song Dynasty (10th-13th century AD). Condition and Provenance: This teapot is in perfect condition, with its original spout, handle, and lid intact, free from minor cracks, damage, or signs of repair. The glaze exhibits naturally distributed, even crackles, showcasing the marks of time. A warm, light brown patina has naturally seeped into the crackle, reflecting centuries of wear. The "Shunis" mark on the base is clear and complete, and the original foot marks are well preserved, with the clay and glaze tightly bonded. The rim shows only slight wear from historical use, with no signs of modern polishing, re-aging, or chemical treatment. This teapot was provided by a senior antique gallery in Hong Kong several years ago and acquired in 2011 by a private collector specializing in Southern Song Dynasty official kilns in Virginia, USA. Hong Kong, Virginia, and Toronto were important global trading centers for Chinese ceramics before the Yuan Dynasty. Description: This milky-white teapot with melon-ribbed design and a bird-shaped knob on the lid is a royal tea and wine vessel produced by the Xiuni Temple official kiln during the Southern Song Dynasty. It represents the high quality of official kilns, combining practicality and aesthetic appeal. The body is rounded and full, shaped like melon ribs, with a smooth, rounded spout on one side and a curled handle on the other. The lid is adorned with a delicate bird-shaped knob, its form lively and dynamic. The square frame on the bottom is inscribed with the characters "Xiuni Temple," a typical mark of Southern Song official kilns. The entire body is covered with a thick, milky-white official kiln glaze, exhibiting a jade-like, translucent texture and the fine crackle pattern characteristic of Xiuni Temple official kilns. This teapot cleverly blends biomimetic aesthetics with the refined elegance of Song Dynasty literati, possessing both everyday usability and aesthetic appeal. A well-preserved water jug from the Xiuni Temple official kiln, complete with its original lid, is extremely rare among extant Southern Song Dynasty official kiln porcelain. Such pieces were used in court tea ceremonies and banquets. Having survived for centuries, the glaze has developed a rich, natural patina, and the discoloration within the cracks is entirely due to natural aging, without any trace of artificial processing. This jug embodies the pinnacle of Southern Song kiln craftsmanship, royal aesthetics, and a rare mark, making it highly sought after by collectors of ancient ceramics worldwide and private museums overseas, a true benchmark in the field of Song Dynasty official kiln porcelain collecting.

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