LIAO-SONG DYNASTY (AD 907-1279)

Suited for indoor and outdoor use, this unusual stool is decorated on the top with a floral design in reference to the sumptuous brocaded textiles of the time which were sometimes placed on top of stone furniture to add comfort and warmth. While the shape became more elongated in the Ming dynasty, with Longquan celadon-glazed stoneware and blue-and-white porcelain examples, this smaller, sancai version from the Liao-Song dynasty is exceedingly rare.