This pair of celadon vessels is entirely coated in a thick olive-green glaze, which retains a soft natural sheen. A network of crackles spreads across the surface. Along the ridges and rims, the glaze has thinned and worn, revealing areas of russet tone through natural abrasion.
The form recalls a tower-shaped sculptural piece: a globular body with a wave-molded platform, surmounted by carved mystical beasts. The knob of the cover is modeled as a bird, while pierced cloud motifs around it.
On the shoulders, a crouching lion with open jaws and a sinuously coiled dragon are applied in relief. The animal figures are solid and voluminous, conveying a rustic strength. Comparable examples from the Southern Song period are preserved in the Boston Museum of Fine Arts and the Henan Museum.
The broad foot is neatly cut, leaving the reddish clay body unglazed; the exposed areas show oxidation typical of excavated pieces. Around the foot and across the surface, accretions are visible within the crackle lines, along with traces of burial oxidation, attesting to their long period underground.
Period : Sui-Song Dynasty
Type : Vase with Applied Lion, Dragon, and Bird Finial
Medium : Celadon
Dimension : 28 cm(Height) x 6.5cm(Mouth Diameter)
Provenance : Acquired in late 1990s from Hongkong
Reference :
1) Boston Museum - Funerary Jar with Dragon from the Southern Song Dynasty
2) Henan Museum, Zhengzou - Vase with tiger design from the Southern Song Dynasty
