Song Dynasty Black Glaze Gourd Vase, Song Dynasty 10th-13th Century

拍品描述

Dimensions: 18 cm (7.09 inches) in height, Song Dynasty (10th-13th century) ancient porcelain. Condition and Provenance: The gourd-shaped vase is structurally intact, without any through cracks or defects. The black glaze remains intact, with only minor signs of aging on the body. The exposed reddish-brown clay at the mouth and base is a natural kiln-fired texture, untouched by reglazing or repair. The silvery star-shaped oil droplet spots on the glaze are natural crystallizations formed during the kiln firing process. This piece was originally collected by a senior antique collector in Shanxi, sold to a gallery specializing in ancient porcelain in Hong Kong in 1998, and acquired by a senior private collector in Hong Kong in 2024. Hong Kong, London, and Kuala Lumpur are core global trading centers for pre-Ming Dynasty Chinese porcelain. Description: This Song Dynasty black-glazed gourd-shaped vase, produced in the Cizhou kiln area of northern China, is a representative example of gourd-shaped decorative ceramics from Song Dynasty folk kilns. The vessel adopts the traditional double-gourd shape: a full and rounded lower part, a compact and small upper part, a gently tapering waist that narrows upwards to a slender and straight mouth, with smooth and symmetrical lines overall. The surface is covered with a thick, glossy black glaze, adorned with countless tiny silver star-shaped oil droplets that shimmer subtly in the light—a typical characteristic of Northern Song black porcelain with its kiln-transformed colors. The glaze drips naturally along the rim, revealing the reddish-brown clay beneath, creating a naturally formed two-tone edge. The bottom is unglazed, revealing a rough, dry, porous clay mixed with reddish-brown and gray kiln-transformed colors, and decorated in a simple, folk-style style, consistent with typical Northern Song ceramics. The pronunciation of "gourd" is the same as "fortune" and "position," implying eternal auspiciousness, wealth, good fortune, and well-being. Song Dynasty literati often placed small gourd-shaped vases on their desks for flower arranging and appreciation, combining practical function with symbolic blessings. While Song Dynasty black-glazed porcelain is relatively common, a gourd-shaped vase that is well-preserved, with an intact glaze and no damage, is extremely rare. This vase has not undergone any artificial restoration, preserving its original kiln glaze and body, perfectly showcasing the folk kiln firing techniques of the Northern Song Dynasty and the traditional Chinese auspicious decorative aesthetics. In the world of ancient porcelain collecting, it is a highly recognizable desktop treasure, highly sought after by private collectors of ancient ceramics in Hong Kong and Europe, as well as small antique porcelain art museums.

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