Song-Yuan Longquan Celadon Flower-Cup Set with Embossed Bird Motif, 12th-14th Century

拍品描述

Dimensions: Tray maximum diameter 16.2 cm (6.38 inches), overall height 7.5 cm (2.95 inches), 12th-14th century Song-Yuan celadon. Condition and Provenance: The flower cup and matching tray are a complete and intact original porcelain set, without any minor cracks, chips, glaze peeling, glaze repairs, or repainting. The entire piece is covered with a soft, light celadon glaze, dotted with fine natural clay particles, preserving the traces of antiquity, without any signs of modern chemical cleaning, addition of pigments, or alteration of the carving. The five-petaled flower cup has clear petal patterns, and the bird-shaped relief on the inner wall of the cup base is three-dimensional and full, without serious wear or deformation. The matching tray is decorated with fan-shaped leaf patterns along the edge, and the cup body is decorated with double-layered horizontal raised patterns. The foot is high and stable, with a smooth and even outline. The bottoms of the teacup and tray are unglazed, retaining the rust-red edges naturally formed during the kiln firing process. The dense, dry earthenware body exhibits a consistent natural patina, with absolutely no modern aging treatments. This complete Longquan tea set, passed down through generations by a family of seasoned antique porcelain collectors from Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces, was consigned to a Hong Kong gallery specializing in antique porcelain for auction in 2024. It was subsequently acquired in 2026 by a private collector of Song and Yuan dynasty porcelain from New York State, USA. Hong Kong, New York, and Vancouver are major global trading centers for pre-Ming dynasty Chinese porcelain. The teacups feature a three-dimensional molded bird motif on the inner bottom, with exquisitely crafted layered wings displaying an elegant and dynamic posture. The bird motif symbolizes peace, auspiciousness, and success, a common auspicious decorative theme in Song and Yuan dynasty porcelain. The matching tray is made from the same clay and glaze as the teacups and was fired in the same kiln. This tea set has a wide, fan-shaped rim with a concave center to firmly support the flower cups; the outer wall is decorated with two raised concentric circles; the high foot ensures stability, and the overall proportions are balanced and elegant. The entire tea set is covered in a thick, light celadon glaze characteristic of Longquan, with a velvety smooth surface and a soft blue-green hue. Fine natural mineral particles are evenly distributed across the glaze, preserving its original state as it was unearthed, untouched by modern polishing or chemical cleaning. The exposed foot rim naturally develops a kiln-fired rust-red patina, complementing the dense, light gray body—typical characteristics of the famous Longquan kilns of the Song and Yuan dynasties. Tea culture flourished in China during the Song and Yuan periods, and a complete set of celadon teacups and a tray was an indispensable part of the tea sets of wealthy literati and aristocratic families. Longquan celadon was renowned domestically during the Middle Ages and widely sought after in international trade, with large quantities exported to East and West Asia. This complete set of flower-shaped cups and vessels is undamaged, with intact flower shapes, clear and sharp relief bird patterns, and a stable glaze color, maintaining the authentic texture of celadon without any obvious damage. It perfectly preserves the firing techniques, classical tea ceremony aesthetics, and traditional decorative symbolism of the Longquan kilns during the Song and Yuan dynasties. Complete flower cups with molded bird patterns are extremely rare at auctions worldwide and are coveted collectibles for North American collectors of ancient celadon.

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