Page 165 - 2021 March 18 to 19th, Important Chinese Works of Art, Christie's New York City

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A RARE LONGQUAN CELADON BARREL-FORM JAR The barrel-form jar, known as a drum-form water vessel in Japan, is
SOUTHERN SONG-YUAN DYNASTY (1127-1368) one of the rarest Longquan celadon forms. A Longquan barrel-form
The jar is decorated in relief on the exterior with a continuous peony jar of larger size (22.3 cm. diam.) with its original cover in Seikado
scroll between rows of small florets above and below, covered overall Bunko, dated to the 13th century, is illustrated by H. Gakuji, Sekai Toji
with a glaze of dark sea-green color suffused with crackles which Zenshu (Ceramic Art of the World), vol. 12: Song, Tokyo, 1977, pp. 94-5,
thins on the raised areas. nos. 85-6. The Seikado Bunko jar and cover is highly prized in Japan and
is arguably one of the most iconic masterpieces of Longquan celadon
6º in. (15.9 cm.) diam.
in the world. Another Longquan barrel-form jar of larger size (20.9 cm.
diam.) in the Percival David Foundation, dated to the Yuan dynasty (1279-
$20,000-30,000 1368), is illustrated by S. Pierson, Illustrated Catalogue of Celadon Wares
in the Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art, London, 1997, p. 26, no.
225. The decoration on the present barrel-form jar, as well as the two
南宋/元 龍泉窯青釉鼓式罐 other aforementioned examples, is executed in a popular method used
at the time, that of "sprig" molding, where the decoration was molded
separately and then applied to the surface before glazing.