Yuan Dynasty Blue and White Lotus Leaf Covered Jar with Medallion Phoenix Motif,14th century Chinese early blue and white porcelain

拍品描述

Dimensions:Overall Height 7.5cm(2.95in),14th century Yuan Dynasty porcelainCondition & Provenance:The jar body and matching lotus leaf cover are fully original and intact,free of cracks,chips and restorations.The glaze layer is well-preserved with natural ancient fine crackles across the surface.The cobalt pigment presents deep blue tone with natural iron rust speckles,a signature feature of original Yuan cobalt ore.The geometric fret band at the neck,medallion phoenix patterns on the belly and hand-trimmed foot marks remain fully legible.The unglazed base is covered with natural soil patina and tiny iron specks with no artificial aging treatment.The lotus leaf lid retains complete lotus vein patterns,the small stem knob bears minor natural brown discoloration formed during firing.This piece comes from a private ancient porcelain collector based in Hong Kong,acquired from a reputable Southeast Asian antique gallery in Kuala Lumpur back in 2017.Small Yuan blue and white covered jars with original matching lids are scarce in the antique market,this well-preserved example serves as a key reference artifact for studying Yuan folk porcelain painting and body-making techniques.Description:This miniature covered jar with lotus leaf lid was crafted during China’s Yuan Dynasty,designed as a practical desk ornament for storing incense or tea leaves in ancient literati studies.It features a short narrow neck,rounded full shoulders,bulbous midsection tapering gently toward the flat unglazed base,mated with a wavy-edged lotus leaf cover.The lid is decorated with painted lotus vein lines and topped with a small bud-shaped knob,showcasing elegant naturalistic design aesthetics.A continuous geometric fret pattern encircles the neck as border decoration.Four cloud scroll outlined medallions decorate the jar’s midsection,each housing a vivid phoenix in flight paired with auspicious cloud and immortal grass accents.The brushwork is bold and unrestrained,representative of freehand folk painting styles prevalent in Yuan blue and white wares.The decoration is painted with imported cobalt su-ma-li-ching ore exclusive to Yuan porcelain,delivering rich deep indigo blue hues with recessed iron rust spots accumulated in thick pigment areas,an unmistakable period marker.The vessel is potted with typical off-white coarse Yuan clay,showing unrefined hand-trimming craft;spiral turning marks left by hand tools are visible on the unglazed base,which is coated with uneven natural brown soil patina specks accumulated over centuries of inheritance.Large-sized Yuan blue and white porcelains are mostly held in institutional museum collections,while intact miniature study jars with original matching lids are extremely rare on the open market.This artifact combines practical decorative value and academic research significance as a standard craft specimen.It is ideal for specialized ancient blue and white collections and gallery display,offering tremendous research value for understanding Yuan cobalt pigment composition,traditional decorative motifs and civilian porcelain production systems.

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