Page 90 - Sothebys Important Chinese Art London May 2018

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A RARE QINGBAI BALUSTER VASE deeply carved designs are unusual; compare a vase carved
SONG DYNASTY with peony illustrated in Sekai toji zenshu/Ceramic Art of the
World, Tokyo, 1977, vol. 12, pl. 32; and another of slightly larger
the rounded sides rising from a spreading foot to a waisted size and modelled with a slightly narrower neck, published in
neck and everted scalloped rim, the body carved with a wide Regina Krahl, Chinese Ceramics from the Meiyintang Collection,
band of lotus ß owers borne on scrolling branches, between London, 1994, vol. 1, pl. 608.
bands of plantain leaves, below a similar band at the neck and
Created at the Raozhou kilns in Jingdezhen, Jiangxi province,
covered in a pale-blue glaze pooling to a deeper blue in the
qingbai ware, also known as yingqing, refers not to a
carved recesses
geographic location as was typical with other wares, but
24.2 cm, 9½ in.
to its appearance. Qing (green) and bai (white) denote the
PROVENANCE alluring pale blue-green tones of the glaze that so e% ectively
complimented the white porcellaneous body beneath. This
Acquired in Hong Kong, 1994.
distinctive colour was achieved through reduction Þ ring
This vase is remarkable for its brilliant translucent glaze, which in a wood-Þ red kiln, a method that also created the russet
has been thinly applied over a lively and freely carved ß oral markings under the foot where the body was left unglazed.
motif. It is rare to Þ nd vases of this form in such good condition
as the delicate foliate mouth would often result in damage ಴ £ 30,000-50,000
through the ages. Furthermore, it retains the attractive glossy HK$ 332,000-555,000 US$ 42,300-70,500
lustre of the glaze, the colour of which is accentuated through
the pools that form in the carved design and edges of the form.
҂ ڡͣཊᚂ،ᇳ७ڀɹଧ
While vases of this complex shape were produced from the
Northern Song period, those of this large size and with such Ը๕
ϋᒅІ࠰ಥ

88 SOTHEBY’S