Bowl with lotus petals, Southern Song to Yuan dynasty, about 1200–1300

Étiquettes

Bowl with lotus petals, British Museum, celadon-glaze, Longquan region, Longquan ware, porcelain-type, Sir Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art, Southern Song-Yuan dynasty, Stoneware, Zhejiang Province

Bowl with lotus petals. Stoneware, porcelain-type, with celadon glaze, Longquan ware 龍泉窯, Longquan region, Zhejiang province 浙江省，龍泉地區 Southern Song to Yuan dynasty, about 1200–1300. Height: 69 millimetres. Diameter: 162 millimetres. Sir Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art (1952 – 2007). PDF.230. British Museum © Trustees of the British Museum

This bowl is decorated outside with a stylised overlapping lotus petal pattern and is a typical product of the southern Longquan kilns. Lotuses are a symbol of purity. Similar bowls were made for a long period in China and many were exported. 

Bibliography: Medley, Margaret, Volume 7: Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art, 7 of 12, Tokyo, Kodansha ltd, 1975, Monochrome pl. 35

Medley, Margaret, Illustrated Catalogue of Celadon Wares in the Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art, London, University of London, Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art, School of Oriental and African Studies, 1977, p.16, no.29

Pierson, Stacey, Illustrated Catalogue of Celadon Wares in the Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art, London, University of London, Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art, School of Oriental and African Studies, 1997, p.28, no.230

Conical bowl with celadon glaze, Southern Song dynasty

Étiquettes

celadon-glaze, conical bowl, Longquan region, Longquan ware, porcelain-type, Southern Song dynasty, Stoneware, Zhejiang Province

Conical bowl with celadon glaze. Stoneware, porcelain-type, with celadon glaze, Longquan ware 龍泉窯, Longquan region, Zhejiang province 浙江省, 龍泉地區, Southern Song dynasty, about AD 1127–1279. Height: 53 millimetres. Diameter: 145 millimetres. Sir Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art (1952 – 2007). PDF.231. British Museum © Trustees of the British Museum

Contemporary Southern Song craftsmen made both silver wares and lacquer wares in this form. This example, made from smooth, pale grey clay, is coated in a thick pale-bluish celadon glaze. Potters used up to four separate layers, developing the thickness of the iron-derived blue glaze. Longquan potters used porcelain stone and limestone as the main glaze ingredients but added wood ash to it. Later potters working at the Longquan kilns in the Yuan dynasty were unable to recreate these soft blue-green glazes which reached their zenith in the Southern Song.

Bibliography: Medley, Margaret, Illustrated Catalogue of Celadon Wares in the Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art, London, University of London, Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art, School of Oriental and African Studies, 1977, p.17, no.35

Pierson, Stacey, Illustrated Catalogue of Celadon Wares in the Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art, London, University of London, Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art, School of Oriental and African Studies, 1997, p.29, no.213

Globular oil jar, Yuan dynasty

Étiquettes

British Museum, celadon-glaze, Globular oil jar, Longquan region, Longquan ware, porcelain-type, Sir Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art, Stoneware, Yuan dynasty, Zhejiang Province

Globular oil jar. Stoneware, porcelain-type, with celadon glaze, Longquan ware 龍泉窯, Longquan region, Zhejiang province 浙江省，龍泉地區, Yuan dynasty, AD 1279–1368. Height: 115 millimetres. Sir Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art (1952 – 2007). PDF.232. British Museum © Trustees of the British Museum

This small jar was made in two parts and the sections joined together with dilute clay. These were mass-produced as small oil containers. They are found at sites across Southeast Asia where they were exported.

Bibliography: Medley, Margaret, Illustrated Catalogue of Celadon Wares in the Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art, London, University of London, Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art, School of Oriental and African Studies, 1977, p.27, no.76

Pierson, Stacey, Illustrated Catalogue of Celadon Wares in the Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art, London, University of London, Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art, School of Oriental and African Studies, 1997, p.29, no.232

Vase shaped after an ancient jade called a cong, Southern Song dynasty

Étiquettes

blue-green glaze, British Museum, cong shaped vase, Longquan ware, porcelain-type, Sir Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art, Southern Song dynasty, Stoneware, Zhejiang Province

Vase shaped after an ancient jade called a cong. Stoneware, porcelain-type, with blue-green glaze, Longquan ware 龍泉窯, Longquan area , Zhejiang province 浙江省, 龍泉地區, Southern Song dynasty, AD 1127–1279. Height: 410 millimetres. Sir Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art (1952 – 2007). PDF.233. British Museum © Trustees of the British Museum

Connoisseurs regard the finest Longquan wares as those with bluish glazes made in the late twelfth and early thirteenth centuries such as this vase which is shaped after an ancient ritual jade object. It was made at a kiln in or around the market town of Longquan in the southern part of Zhejiang province.

Acquisition notes: R. L. Hobson, 1934 records: From the Duan Fang (Tuan Fang) Collection.

Bibliography: Hobsob, Robert L, A Catalogue of Chinese Pottery and Porcelain in the Collection of Sir Percival David Bt., F.S.A., London, The Stourton Press, 1934, p. 43, pl. XLII

Medley, Margaret, Illustrated Catalogue of Celadon Wares in the Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art, London, University of London, Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art, School of Oriental and African Studies, 1977, p.26, no.73

Pierson, Stacey, Illustrated Catalogue of Celadon Wares in the Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art, London, University of London, Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art, School of Oriental and African Studies, 1997, p.29, no.233

Longquan porcelain vase of archaic bronze gu or zun shape, Yuan dynasty

Étiquettes

British Museum, China, gu shape, Longquan ware, Porcelain Vase, Sir Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art, Yuan dynasty, Zhejiang Province, zun shape

Longquan porcelain vase of archaic bronze gu or zun shape, Stoneware, porcelain-type, carved, sprig-moulded decoration and celadon glaze Longquan ware 龍泉窯, Longquan region, Zhejiang province 浙江省，龍泉地區, Yuan dynasty, AD 1280–1368. Height: 192 millimetres. Sir Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art (1952 – 2007). PDF.234. British Museum © Trustees of the British Museum

This celadon vase is modelled after an ancient ritual drinking vessel called a gu. Wealthy aristocrats and generals of the Shang and Zhou dynasties, (about 1600–256 BC), buried bronze vessels as part of ritual eating and drinking equipment for tombs. The shape was transformed into a vase in the Song dynasty (AD 960–1279) as catalogues of collections of antiques were published with woodblock-printed illustrations. Related gu vases with less well-defined decoration were recovered from the Sinan shipwreck of AD1323. This ship was sunk in the waters near the Dokdo islets off the Shinan coast in south-west Korea. Of the 17,000 ceramics on board, over half were from Longquan. The ship is believed to have been travelling from Ningbo in southern China to Korea, on its way to Japan.

Bibliography: Medley, Margaret, Illustrated Catalogue of Celadon Wares in the Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art, London, University of London, Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art, School of Oriental and African Studies, 1977,  p.19, no.41

Pierson, Stacey, Illustrated Catalogue of Celadon Wares in the Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art, London, University of London, Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art, School of Oriental and African Studies, 1997, p.29, no.234

Incense burner with lotus bouquets, Yuan dynasty, about 1280–1368

Étiquettes

British Museum, celadon-glaze, Incense burner, Longquan region, Longquan ware, porcelain-type, Sir Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art, Stoneware, Yuan dynasty, Zhejiang Province

Incense burner with lotus bouquets, Yuan dynasty, about 1280–1368, Stoneware, porcelain-type, with applied decoration and celadon glaze, Longquan ware 龍泉窯; Longquan region, Zhejiang province 浙江省，龍泉地區. Height: 104 millimetres. Diameter: 147 millimetres. Sir Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art (1952 – 2007). PDF.235. British Museum © Trustees of the British Museum

Longquan porcelain incense jar in the form of a Han period bronze lian, with upright sides and three feet. The vase has grey-green glaze. There are three raised lines above the base and below the rim, with three moulded lotus sprays around the body.

This three-legged incense burner is in the form of an ancient ritual bronze food vessel called a lian. It is decorated with three incised lines around the rim and above the base and with three sprig-moulded lotus bouquets applied around the body before covering in a celadon glaze. 

Bibliography: Medley, Margaret, Volume 7: Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art, 7 of 12, Tokyo, Kodansha ltd, 1975, Monochrome pl. 41

Pierson, Stacey, Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art: A Guide to the Collection, London, SOAS, Univeristy of London, 2002, p.11, no.235

Medley, Margaret, Illustrated Catalogue of Celadon Wares in the Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art, London, University of London, Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art, School of Oriental and African Studies, 1977, p.22, no.56

Pierson, Stacey, Illustrated Catalogue of Celadon Wares in the Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art, London, University of London, Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art, School of Oriental and African Studies, 1997, p.32, no.235

Hobson, R L; Hetherington, A L, The Art of the Chinese Potter, London, 1923, pl. LXVI

Large dish with an inscription, Ming dynasty, AD 1400–1500

Étiquettes

British Museum, crackled celadon glaze, dish with an inscription, Longquan region, Longquan ware, Ming Dynasty, Sir Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art, Stoneware, Zhejiang Province

Large dish with an inscription, Ming dynasty, AD 1400–1500,, Stoneware, carved and with crackled celadon glaze, Longquan ware  龍泉窯, Longquan region, Zhejiang province 浙江省, 龍泉地區. Height: 116 millimetres. Diameter: 483 millimetres. Sir Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art (1952 – 2007). PDF.236. British Museum © Trustees of the British Museum

Longquan porcelain dish. The dish has crackled greyish green glaze. There is a peony spray in low relief in the centre, with overlapping lotus petals on the interior. There is an inscription on the base.

This large celadon dish is carved in the centre with a peony spray in low relief and with lotus petals. On the base has an apocryphal inscription in low relief 元佑年造(Yuan you nian zao ‘Made in the Yuanyou period’ [AD 1086–94]). Yuan you was the reign title for a Northern Song dynasty emperor. Also known as 宋哲宗 Song Zhesong. 

Bibliography: Hobsob, Robert L, A Catalogue of Chinese Pottery and Porcelain in the Collection of Sir Percival David Bt., F.S.A., London, The Stourton Press, 1934, p. 49, pl. XLVIII

Medley, Margaret, Illustrated Catalogue of Celadon Wares in the Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art, London, University of London, Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art, School of Oriental and African Studies, 1977, p.15, no.25

Pierson, Stacey, Illustrated Catalogue of Celadon Wares in the Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art, London, University of London, Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art, School of Oriental and African Studies, 1997, p.32, no.236

Large dated temple vase, Yuan dynasty, dated around AD 1327

Étiquettes

British Museum, celadon-glaze, Longquan region, Longquan ware, porcelain-type, Sir Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art, Stoneware, temple vase, Yuan dynasty, Zhejiang Province

Large dated temple vase, Yuan dynasty, dated around AD 1327. Stoneware, porcelain-type, incised, carved and with celadon glaze, Longquan ware 龍泉窯, Longquan region, Zhejiang province 浙江省, 龍泉地區.  Height: 720 millimetres. Sir Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art (1952 – 2007). PDF.237. British Museum © Trustees of the British Museum

Longquan stoneware vase with long neck and flared mouth. The vase has grey-green glaze. There are carved petals around lower part of the exterior, concentric rings around the neck, and pomegranate scrolls around the body. There is an inscription around the lip.

This tall vase is carved around the ovoid body and neck with peony or camellia scrolls. Its construction is typical of the Yuan dynasty as its base is inserted separately fixed with glaze, and the foot ring left unglazed. Carved around the inner lip are sixty-one characters. This dedication is read counterclockwise 栝倉剱川流山萬安社居奉三寳弟子張進成燒造大花瓶壹雙捨入覺林院大法堂佛前永充供養祈福保安家門吉慶者恭定四年丁卯嵗仲秋吉日謹題 (Guacang Jianchuan Liushan Wan’anshe ju feng sanbao dizi Zhang Jincheng shaozao da huaping yi shuang sheru Juelinyuan da fatang fo qian yongchong gongyang qifu bao’an jiamen jiqing zhe Taiding sinian dingmao sui zhongqiu jiri jin ti ‘Zhang Jincheng of the village of Wan’an by Liuhua hill at Jianchuan in Guacang, a humble believer in the Precious Trinity (ie Buddhism) has fired a pair of large flower vases to be placed for ever before the Buddha in the Great Hall of Ritual at Juelin Temple, with a prayer that the blessings of peace, happiness and prosperity may attend his family. Respectfully inscribed on an auspicious day in the second month of autumn of the dingmao year in the Taiding period’ [AD 1327]). Hobson records that Jianchuan is an old name for Longquan where this vase was made. Guacang is close to Lishui in Zhejiang province.

Bibliography: Medley, Margaret, Volume 7: Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art, 7 of 12, Tokyo, Kodansha ltd, 1975, Colour pl. 30 and p. 308

Hobsob, Robert L, A Catalogue of Chinese Pottery and Porcelain in the Collection of Sir Percival David Bt., F.S.A., London, The Stourton Press, 1934, p. 52, pl. LI

Medley, Margaret, Illustrated Catalogue of Celadon Wares in the Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art, London, University of London, Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art, School of Oriental and African Studies, 1977, p.28, no.81

Pierson, Stacey, Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art: A Guide to the Collection, London, SOAS, Univeristy of London, 2002, p.55, no.33

Scott, Rosemary, Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art: A Guide to the Collection, London, SAOS, Univeristy of London, 1989,  p.63, no.51

Medley, Margaret, Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art: Illustrated Guide to the Collection, SOAS, 1974, p.7, no.237

Pierson, Stacey, Illustrated Catalogue of Celadon Wares in the Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art, London, University of London, Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art, School of Oriental and African Studies, 1997, pp 32,33&35, no.237

Riddell, Sheila, Dated Chinese Antiquities 600-1650, London and Boston, Faber and Faber, 1979, pp 38-39, nos 8&9

Scott, Rosemary, Imperial Taste – Chinese Ceramics from the Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art, Los Angeles County Museum of Art and Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art, 1989, pp 50-51, no.24

Oriental Ceramic Society, The Ceramic Art of China, London, 1971, pp 91-92, no.115

Notes; R. L. Hobson, 1934 records: ‘A similar vase in Constantinople is illustrated in « Meisterwerke der Turkischen Museen zu Konstantinopel » by E. Zimmermann, Vol.2, Plate 4.’

Large dated temple vase, Ming dynasty, dated around AD 1454

Étiquettes

British Museum, celadon-glaze, Longquan region, Longquan ware, Ming Dynasty, porcelain-type, Sir Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art, Stoneware, temple vase, Zhejiang Province

Large dated temple vase, Ming dynasty, dated around AD 1454. Stoneware, porcelain-type, incised, carved and with celadon glaze, Longquan ware 龍泉窯, Longquan region, Zhejiang province 浙江省，龍泉地區. Height: 690 millimetres. Sir Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art (1952 – 2007). PDF.238. British Museum © Trustees of the British Museum

Longquan porcelain vase with long neck, flared mouth and everted rim. The vase has grey-green glaze. There are concentric rings around the neck above overlapping leaves, lotus and peony scroll bands around the body, and overlapping lotus petals around the lower part. There is an inscription on the neck.

On one side of the neck is a dated dedication in a panel with a lotus leaf above and a lotus flower below. It reads 景泰伍年福里鎮安社信人楊宗信喜捨恭入本寺供養□自身延壽者 (Jingtai wunian Fuli Zhen’an she xinren Yang Zongxin xishe gongru bensi gongyang □ zishen yanshou zhe ‘In the fifth year of the Jingtai period [ AD 1454], the believer Yang Zongxin of the village of Zhen’an in the district of Fuli has respectfully offered this (vase) to the local temple to be placed before the Buddha, with a prayer for long life.’)

Bibliography:  Hobsob, Robert L, A Catalogue of Chinese Pottery and Porcelain in the Collection of Sir Percival David Bt., F.S.A., London, The Stourton Press, 1934, p. 60, pl. LIX.

Medley, Margaret, Illustrated Catalogue of Celadon Wares in the Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art, London, University of London, Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art, School of Oriental and African Studies, 1977, p.33, no.99

Pierson, Stacey, Illustrated Catalogue of Celadon Wares in the Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art, London, University of London, Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art, School of Oriental and African Studies, 1997, p.35, no.238

Riddell, Sheila, Dated Chinese Antiquities 600-1650, London and Boston, Faber and Faber, 1979, p.44, no.14

Longquan ware, dish with four fishes, Ming dynasty, AD 1403–35

Étiquettes

British Museum, Dish with four fishes, Longquan region, Longquan ware, Ming Dynasty, Sir Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art, Zhejiang Province

Dish with four fishes, Ming dynasty, AD 1403–35. Stoneware, porcelain-type, with incised and applied biscuit-fired decoration and celadon glaze, Longquan ware 龍泉窯, Longquan region, Zhejiang province 浙江省, 龍泉地區. Height: 89 millimetres. Diameter: 318 millimetres. Sir Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art (1952 – 2007).  PDF.240. British Museum © Trustees of the British Museum

Longquan porcelain dish with flattened mouth rim, and thick inclined foot rim, The dish has a grey-green glaze. There is a lotus spray in the centre surrounded by a scroll, and four unglazed fish around the interior.   

Yuan potters used a new technique to decorate this Longquan dish, creating a design with contrasting orangey-red unglazed (biscuit-fired) areas against rich green glaze. First, they incised aspects of the design, such as the flowers and then covered the whole dish in glaze except for a broad ring on the base, which was left to accommodate a kiln support. Next they applied designs from clay which had been rolled out thin like pastry and pressed-out using small carved moulds. This technique used to apply the four swimming fish is called sprig-moulding.

Bibliography: Medley, Margaret, Volume 7: Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art, 7 of 12, Tokyo, Kodansha ltd, 1975, Monochrome pl. 65

Medley, Margaret, Illustrated Catalogue of Celadon Wares in the Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art, London, University of London, Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art, School of Oriental and African Studies, 1977, p. 33, no.100

Pierson, Stacey, Illustrated Catalogue of Celadon Wares in the Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art, London, University of London, Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art, School of Oriental and African Studies, 1997, p.36, no.240