Page 40 - Important Chinese Art, Sotheby's London May 15 2019

15

PROPERTY FROM THE RUI XIU LOU COLLECTION
A LARGE PURPLE-SPLASHED ‘JUN’ HANDLED JAR
YUAN DYNASTY
sturdily potted, the deep sides rising from a short splayed
foot to a short wide neck, flanked by a pair of loop handles to
the side, splashed to one side and to the handles with a rich
purple on the pale blue glaze thinning to a mushroom tone to
the rim and stopping irregularly above the foot to reveal the
pale buff body
25.2 cm, 10 in.

‡ £ 50,000-70,000
HK$ 515,000-720,000 US$ 65,500-92,000
元 鈞窰天藍釉玫瑰紫斑雙繫罐

‘Jun’ ware, with its type site represented by the Juntai kilns
in the former region of Junzhou, modern-day Yuxian, Henan
province, was produced by many different manufactories in
Henan, including the Ru kilns at Qingliangsi in Baofeng, prob-
ably from the end of the Northern Song period (960-1127)
until at least the Ming dynasty (1368-1644). In comparison
to the other important Song wares, the bodies of ‘Jun’ wares
are more thickly potted, which is a contributing factor to
the more simplistic forms – as well as the viscous glazes.
As water from the glaze is absorbed by the porous biscuit in
the firing, the glaze appears thicker, lending itself to a more
substantial covering.
This jar is unusual for its generous proportions, its broad
shoulders accentuated through the dramatic purple splash
that also creates a colourful contrast to the thick bright blue
glaze Such splashes on Jun ware were created through the
application of purplish-red pigments derived from copper,
over the thick bluish glaze. These colourful marks were either
painted in broad stokes or splashed over the dried blue
ground before being fired in a reduction kiln, resulting in flam-
boyant patches of purple, lavender and tones of deep blue.
We can compare the present car with two slightly smaller
jars of this type sold in these rooms, 27th November 1967,
lot 267, and 17th November 1999, lot 853; another example
is illustrated in Mayuyama, Seventy Years, Tokyo, 1976, vol.
1. A jar of similar form but with a green splash and attributed
to the Song dynasty (960-1279), in the Victoria and Albert
Museum, London, published on the Museum’s website,
accession no. C.585-1925.

38 Buyers are liable to pay both the hammer price (as estimated above) and the buyer’s premium together with any applicable taxes and Artist’s Resale Right (which will depend on the individual circumstanc-
es). Refer to the Buying at Auction and VAT sections at the back of this catalogue for further information.