Extremely Rare Kuan-yao Vase
Southern Song (1127-1279)

Following the Southern Song imperial Kuan-yao, the vessel is of early mei-p'ing shape. The top still holds the well worn copper band protecting the rim, flairing down to a fine bulbus shape then tappering down where the glaze terminates to show the dark brown clay ground. Fatty thick glaze is clear with grey-blue densely suffused with minute bubbles with a broad russet crackle, the unglazed ware showing dark greyish brown at the foot.

CONDITION:
No chips craks or breaks. Glaze worn on rim due to age. Foot also shows some ware from age.

MEASUREMENTS:
Shoulder 9 in
Height 14 in
Base 5 in

At about the time of civil unrest in the Song dynasty there was a separation of the kingdom of northern and southern Song (1127-1279) two brothers set up kilns in Hsien in the Ch'u-chou Fu, province of the Chekiang. Each having separate factory in the Liu-tien district. The two brothers started production of what is now called Ko-yao and Kuan-yao wares, most finer specimens showing off a fine blue-gray with large crackle. Firing time made the difference in the color, if underfired you would see a more blue-gray color and if fired for longer times from grass-green to seaweed to gray. Most of the finer blue-grey specimens where produced for imperial use, as the one shown here. Most, if not all Song celedons have a very fatty glaze while later on, Ming and Ching dynasty examples exhibit a very thin glaze.

HOME | GALLERY | ABOUT US | TERMS OF SALE | CONTACT

© 2002- 2008 BLANC de CHINE. All rights reserved.