The bowl is potted with steep, flared sides and decorated to the interior with stylized peonies among scrolling tendrils. The exterior is carved with vertical lines below the everted mouth rim.
Period : Song Dynasty (AD 960-1279)
Type : Yaozhou Celadon
Dimension: 17.0 cm(Diameter), 5.5cm(Height)
Provenance : Acquired in late 1990s from Hongkong
* Yaozhou Celadon
The Yaozhou kilns, active during the Northern Song Dynasty (960–1127 AD), were located in modern-day Shaanxi Province and are renowned for their celadon wares. Yaozhou ceramics are distinguished by their olive or brownish-green glaze and the elegant, often spontaneous carving techniques employed in their decoration.
Yaozhou ware typically features carved or incised designs, sometimes with motifs that are impressively detailed. Common themes include floral patterns, such as peonies or chrysanthemums, and more abstract or geometric patterns. The carving is usually done in a 'sgraffito' technique, where the design is carved into the clay and then filled with the glaze, which after firing, reveals the pattern in a contrasting color against the darker body.
The forms of Yaozhou ceramics are often practical – including bowls, dishes, and jars – reflecting their use in daily life as well as for special occasions. The quality of the glaze, which ranges from a matte finish to a more glossy appearance, and the depth of the carving are particular characteristics that help identify Yaozhou wares. The aesthetic appeal of these ceramics lies in the harmony between form, decoration, and glaze, demonstrating the potters' skilled control over their craft.
During the Northern Song period, Yaozhou wares were highly valued and widely used, and they continued to influence Chinese ceramics in subsequent dynasties. Today, they are considered important artifacts and are highly prized by collectors and historians for their beauty and historical value.
