This beautifully crafted jar features a wide baluster form, swelling gracefully from a short and slightly tapered foot. The design is accentuated by slender, elegant vertical ribs throughout. The glaze exhibits a subdued luster, reflecting the passage of time, pooling into a deeper green in the recessed areas. It stops just above the unglazed foot, revealing the reddish-burnt pale gray clay beneath.
Period : Southern Song Dynasty - Yuan Dynasty
Type : Celadon
Medium : Longquan ware
Size : 24cm(Height) 25cm(Mouth Diameter)
Condition : Excellent(Minor crack on the mouth, as shown in the photo)
Provenance : Acquired in late 1990s from Hongkong
Reference :
1) Sotheby's Newyork 18 March 2008 - Lot 99 - a rare 'longquan' celadon 'hundred rib' jar and cover (guan) Yuan dynasty
(Price realised : 79,000 USD / Type : Closely related)
https://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2008/fine-chinese-ceramics-and-works-of-art-n08420/lot.99.html
2) Christies Newyork 19 MAR 2009 - Lot 710 - A LONGQUAN CELADON 'HUNDRED RIB' JAR, GUAN
(Price realised : 50,000 USD / Type : Closely related)
https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-5182245
* The Southern Song-Yuan Longquan celadon
The Southern Song-Yuan Longquan celadon showcases a remarkable advancement in glazing and form compared to earlier periods. Unlike previous celadons, its glaze is thick with a soft, glass-like texture, distinguished by a deep and subtle jade-green hue. This effect is achieved through a sophisticated glazing technique that maintains transparency despite the glaze’s thickness, perfected through consistent high-temperature firing.
In terms of form, Southern Song-Yuan Longquan celadons emphasize elegance and refined balance over bold geometric designs or dramatic decorations. Carved or molded decorations are shallow and delicate, designed to harmonize with the glaze pooling in recessed areas to create richer tones. This approach contrasts sharply with the more rigid and striking decorations of earlier periods.
Additionally, the unglazed foot and the reddish-burnt clay underneath are distinctive aesthetic features of Longquan celadon, reflecting the meticulous firing process and advanced craftsmanship of the time. These characteristics elevated Longquan celadon from functional ware to artistic masterpieces, embodying the era's technical and aesthetic achievements.
