Page 19 - Chinese Ceramics the Linyushanren Collection Part 1 , Christie's

Lot 2815 Lot 2813
Lot 2815
phase-separation helped to carry the excess iron to the surface. At the early A Rare Large Carved Ding ‘Lotus’ Basin
stage of this process the droplets appeared as tiny specks producing the flecked Lot 2813
appearance of the ‘tea dust’ glaze. As the droplets moved to the surface and burst A Very Rare Finely Moulded Ding ‘Peacock’ Dish
they produced an ‘oil-spot’ effect, and then when the glaze ran down the sides of
the bowls, it carried the burst droplets with it creating the effect of streaking that The Linyushanren Collection, Part I
is known as ‘hare’s fur’ (Lot 2820). The streaking was enhanced by the growth of
micro-crystals in the excess iron oxide during cooling and the different colours of
the three main states of iron oxide - ferric oxide (yellowish-brown), ferrous oxide
(black) and magnetic iron oxide (silvery) – gave a range of colorations.

In contrast to the Cizhou and Jizhou wares with their exuberant designs, and the rich,
dark glazes of Jian wares, the Linyushanren Collection also includes fine, pale ivory-
toned Ding wares with decoration of great subtlety. The Ding kiln area in Quyangxian
benefited from geology which included a seam containing fireclay and secondary kaolin
which was high in alumina and remarkably low in both iron and titanium, accounting
for the whiteness of the ceramics made from it. The glaze of classic Ding pieces, such
as those in the Linyushanren Collection, also benefited from being of magnesia-lime
type; lime fluxed, high in magnesia and low in calcia. The inclusion of high proportions
of oxides such as magnesia, alumina and silica, which contract relatively little, resulted
in a glaze that was usually fairly free from crazing. An oxidizing atmosphere in the Ding
kilns during firing resulted in a pale ivory-coloured glaze.

The Linyushanren Collection contains extremely fine examples of Ding wares both
with carved and incised decoration, and with moulded decoration. One of the former
is the impressive basin decorated with a fluently carved lotus scrolls (Lot 2815) in the
current sale. As the Ding glaze is transparent and almost colourless, while the body
material is white, the carved decoration appears very delicate, and the decorator has
added definition to the design by highlighting certain areas using an outline of double
parallel lines. Despite its size and shape the basin was fired upside-down using the
fushao method. Since this method necessitated an unglazed mouth rim, the vessel
had a copper-alloy band applied around its mouth-rim – providing a pleasing contrast
with the ivory-toned glaze. A similar alloy band can be seen around the mouth rim of
an exquisite dish with moulded decoration, also in the current sale (Lot 2813). With

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