Page 46 - Decorative Arts, Part II: Far Eastern Ceramics and Paintings, Persian and Indian Rugs and Carpets

1972.43-3 (C-558)

Bowl

Jin dynasty (1115-1234)
Glazed stoneware, Northern Celadon ware, 9.9 x 23.2
(3 7/8 x 9 1/8)
Harry G. Steele Collection, Gift of Grace C. Steele
TECHNICAL NOTES
There are two gold lacquer repairs on the lip, and the foot- ring base is recessed. What might appear to be the Chinese
has one chip. A pontil ring appears on the base. The vessel numeral one (yi) on the base is probably the accidental
tipped slightly during firing; as a result, the glaze on the interi- result of a kiln support sticking to the base during firing.
or has pooled to one side. The main decoration appears on the interior and is
carved into the body under the glaze. The fluidly carved
PROVENANCE lines are interspersed with a background of wavy combed
(Parish- Watson Gallery, New York), by 1917; sold to Harry G.
Steele [1881-1941], Pasadena; his widow, Grace C. Steele. lines. In the center are arranged two stylized lotus flowers
and a naturalistic lotus leaf. Below the rim is a continuous
band of stylized leaves enclosed by two scored lines. The
OMPARISON WITH EXCAVATED EXAMPLES Suggests that
C this bowl was made at the Yaozhou kiln site in exterior is plain, with the exception of a line encircling the
1
Shaanxi Province. The Yaozhou kilns were established in bowl high on the wall. Where the incised lines are deepest,
the glaze has pooled, creating a darker color.
the Tang dynasty (618-906) and continued to produce SL
celadon-glazed wares through the Northern Song
(960-1127) and Jin (1115-1234) dynasties. 2 In the early
twelfth century, wares from Yaozhou were sent as tribute NOTES
to the Northern Song court in Bianliang (Kaifeng, 1. Shaanxi 1965, 21, pis. 13:4,13:29, 26:3.
Henan Province). 2. Gompertz 1980,103-104.
This example is large for a Northern Celadon bowl.
The glaze, which stops just above the foot on the exterior,
is a transparent green with clearly visible bubbles and a REFERENCES
crackle pattern. The foot-ring is sharply trimmed, and the 1917 Parish-Watson: no. 13.

30 D E C O R A T I V E A R T S