Rare Dingyao Green-Glazed Dragon Dish, Liao-Song Dynasty

This dish is covered in a rich green glaze, with a central medallion depicting a sinuous dragon in high relief, surrounded by a continuous band of floral scrolls. The dragon’s scales, claws, and mane are rendered in fine detail, while the outer floral patterns fill the surface with decorative density. The glaze surface shows age-related crackles and iridescence, producing rainbow-like effects typical of long-buried wares. The base is neatly finished with a low footring, exposing patches of clay beneath the glaze.

The piece shares notable affinities with Dingyao (Ding ware). Both employ carefully refined clay bodies and the use of carved or molded motifs that appear subtly beneath the glaze, creating a delicate surface effect. The compositional scheme—placing a dominant central motif (here, the dragon) encircled by a floral band—also echoes Ding ware aesthetics. Likewise, the thin, well-balanced walls and the harmony between ornamentation and form show parallels with Ding ware traditions, even though this example belongs to the green-glazed ware.

Period : Liao-Song Dynasty (10-12th century)
Type : Green-glazed dish
Medium : Ceramics, Stoneware
Size : 19.5 cm(Diameter), 3cm(Height)
Provenance : Acquired in late 1990s, Hongkong
Reference :

1) Sotheby's, Newyork 17 March 2009 - Fine Chinese Ceramics And Works Of Art - lot36 (Same iridescence in this meiping)
(Price realised : 74,500 USD / Type : related)
https://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2009/fine-chinese-ceramics-and-works-of-art-n08524/lot.36.html?locale=en

2) Sotheby's, London 12 November 2003. lot76. (A similar piece was in the auction of this auction)

3) China Guardian Hongkong - Spring 2019 - Lot1449
(Price realised : 188,800 HKD / Type : Closely related)
https://www.cguardian.com.hk/tc/auction/auction-details.php?id=201760

4) Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art - Accession Number F1917.204
https://asia.si.edu/explore-art-culture/collections/search/edanmdm:fsg_F1917.204/

5) V&A Museum UK - ACCESSION NUMBER C.824-1936
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O494872/bottle-unknown/

6) Christies Hongkong 4 APR 2017 - The Pavilion Sale - Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art - Lot89
(Price realised : 350,000 HKD / Type : Closely related)
https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-6064777

* Ding-Green and Cizhou-Green

In the Song Dynasty, green glazes were prominently featured in two types: "Ding green" and "Cizhou green." "Ding green" refers to the green-glazed ceramics produced by Ding kilns. While Ding kilns were primarily known for their white porcelain, they also produced green-glazed items. An example of this is the green-glazed 'Ding' pillow with a carved lotus pond design found in Dingzhou, Hebei Province, which was entirely covered in green glaze. This artifact indicates that by the Song Dynasty, green glaze was no longer used solely for burial items but had been incorporated into everyday life.

Apart from Ding kilns, Cizhou kilns also produced a large number of green-glazed works. According to research, the green-glazed works from the Cizhou kilns can be categorized into two types. One type features patterns carved onto the green-glazed products, and the other has a green-glaze base with black color applied over it. The green-glazed products produced by the Cizhou kilns were colloquially known as "Cizhou green" by the public.