Song Official Kiln Grey Celadon Crackle Guan Ear Mini Vase, Song Dynasty

拍品描述

Dimensions: 11 cm (4.33 inches) high, 10th-13th century Song Dynasty official kiln scholar's incense vase with handles. Condition and Provenance: This vase is in perfect condition, without cracks, defects, or glaze loss. The entire body is covered with natural gold filigree, and the glaze is thick and stable, with no large areas of peeling or flaking. There are only slight signs of aging on the mouth and handles. The dark brown unglazed foot remains in its original state, without modern polishing or artificial aging treatment. This vase has passed through the hands of several overseas collectors and is now in the collection of a private classical ceramics museum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Hong Kong was a major global trading center for ancient Chinese porcelain before the Ming Dynasty. Description: This small scholar's incense vase with handles is a classic decorative piece from the Song Dynasty official kiln, made specifically for the study of ancient Chinese literati, serving as both an incense vase and a tabletop ornament. This piece is well-proportioned, with a shallow foot rim, a flat and rounded body, a straight and upright neck, and symmetrical tubular "official handles" on both sides of the mouth. The lines are soft and flowing, and the proportions are perfectly balanced. Standing only 11 centimeters tall, it is an ideal tabletop ornament. Both the inner and outer surfaces are covered with a thick, even grayish-green glaze, presenting a soft, matte sheen rather than a glaring shine. The body is covered with interwoven natural golden crackles, fine gold lines evenly distributed on the glaze surface—a characteristic aging feature of Song Dynasty official kiln porcelain. On either side of the central mouth are two symmetrical hollow tubular "official handles," seamlessly integrated with the neck during the throwing process. A thin glaze is applied to the rim, subtly revealing the dark clay beneath, forming the signature "purple edge" of official kiln porcelain. The rounded, full belly gradually narrows to a short, unglazed foot rim, revealing the dense, dark brown clay known as the "iron ring." This piece fully demonstrates the three major characteristics of Song Dynasty official kiln porcelain: the purple-blue edge, the iron ring foot, and the grayish-blue crackle glaze. Song Dynasty official kilns produced porcelain exclusively for the imperial court, and well-preserved small literati porcelain pieces are extremely rare today. Official kiln ear-handled vases were favored by Song Dynasty literati as ritual objects and incense burners, requiring extremely high standards for the clay formula and kiln temperature control. This particular vase is perfectly shaped, without deformation, with natural crackles in the glaze, a uniform and consistent glaze color, and intact details on the base, without any repairs or damage. It is not only an important reference specimen for studying the ceramic craftsmanship of Song Dynasty official kilns, but also a beautiful decorative item for traditional tea rooms and studies, possessing extremely high historical, technical, and aesthetic value for collectors.

图片