NORTHERN SONG DYNASTY (960-1127)

Details

A CIZHOU SGRAFFIATO VASE, MEIPING
NORTHERN SONG DYNASTY (960-1127)
Painted in brown with a frieze of peony meander bearing two large blossoms framed by the curling leaves with combed details and outlines incised through the brown to the white slip ground, between a band of lappets to the base and petals to the neck, the base unglazed
12 3/8 in. (31.3 cm.) high

Provenance

Acquired in the late 1970s from a European collector

Special notice

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 15% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.

Lot Essay

The very difficult technique used to produce the design on this vase was developed at the Cizhou kilns in the Northern Song dynasty. It involved the application of a pale slip to the unfired stoneware vessel, followed by a dark slip. The outline of the decoration was then incised through the dark top layer and the background area of the design was cut away to reveal the pale slip beneath. Details, such as stamens and leaf veins, were also incised through the dark upper layer either with a fine point or a comb-like instrument. The thin colorless glaze could then be applied and the vessel fired.

The result of the Oxford thermoluminescence test no. P108h77 is consistent with the dating of this lot

More from Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art Including Export Art

View All