Pair of Southern Song Guan Kiln Moon‑White Glazed Gold‑Thread Crackle Floral‑Rim Teacups (12th‑13th Century A.D.)

拍品描述

Dimensions：Each cup mouth diameter 7.6cm (2.99 in), height 4.1cm (1.61 in), 12th‑13th Century A.D.Condition & Provenance：Both cups are fully intact, free of cracks, chips, glaze loss and modern restoration. The glaze remains lustrous and complete, with naturally aged gold‑thread crackles throughout. Time‑honored wear on rims and foot rings is visible, and iron‑foot characteristics are well‑defined. Provenance: Former collection of a Hong‑Kong‑based Song porcelain collector. Acquired at Vancouver Asian Antique Fair in 2013, kept within one private family. The pair was only shown in private exhibitions focused on Southern Song Guan ware and has never been offered at public auction.Description：This matched pair of floral‑rim teacups was produced in the imperial Southern Song Guan kiln, serving as drinking vessels for the imperial court and Song literati. Each cup features soft undulating floral rim, plump curved wall tapering down to a small neat foot ring. The compact rounded silhouette fits comfortably in hand and embodies the restrained minimalist aesthetic of Song China. Thick moon‑white glaze covers interior and exterior of both cups, creating rich jade‑like texture with gentle subdued luster. Organic gold‑thread crackles spread across every surface, interlaced fissures filled with yellowish‑brown staining formed by differential thermal shrinkage between body and glaze, the signature decorative trait of Guan kiln ceramics. Thin glaze at rim faintly reveals underlying body tone, and unglazed foot rings show dark ferruginous clay, presenting the canonical “purple‑rim and iron‑foot” feature of authentic Guan ware. As ceramics exclusively manufactured for the Southern Song court, intact surviving pairs of Guan‑kiln teacups are quite uncommon. This matching set displays consistent glaze tone, poetic antique crackles and well‑proportioned forms. Its body‑glaze markers closely correspond to excavated archaeological specimens from the Southern Song Guan kiln site. Boasting excellent preservation, the pair delivers practical tea‑use potential, decorative appeal and solid scholarly collectible value, highly prized by Song‑porcelain specialists across the United States and worldwide.

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