Cizhou carved bean-shaped pillow, Song-Jin Dynasty, 11th-12th century

This jar features a carved design, which is typical of Cizhou ware. It has a creamy white and brown color scheme, and the prominent decoration of lotus flower, which is a common motif in Chinese art and culture, symbolizing purity and enlightenment. The carving technique involves coating the vessel with a layer of white slip (liquid clay), then carving away parts of it to create the design, revealing the darker clay body beneath. This technique allows for a strong contrast between the background and the carved motif. Period : Song-Yuan Dynasty Type : Jar Medium : Cizhou Ware Size : 21.5 cm(Height), 11cm(Mouth Diameter) Provenance : Acquired in 1999, Hongkong * Cizhou Ware Cizhou is the name given to a number of stonewares, grey or buff, of varying degrees of hardness, with painted, incised or carved decoration on a clay slip. These stonewares were not only made in the region of Cizhou, Hebei Province, but in several provinces of China during the Song, Yuan and Ming periods. The great centres of production were in the north of China in the provinces of Hebei, Henan and Shanxi. Cizhou wares seem to have been very popular, made for a clientèle of rich merchants, at a period when the paintings of famous...

The vase features broad shoulders and a tapering body. Its surface is finely carved with scrolling foliage and lotus motifs, accentuated by precise incised lines beneath a soft bluis...

This jar would have served as a mortuary object (mingqi), placed in a tomb as a substitute for the more valuable bronze and lacquer vessels used in daily life. Along with a variety o...

Cizhou ware is known for its robust forms and freely applied decoration, often featuring a white slip under clear glaze. The pillow is rectangular, with a slightly curved top surface to accommodate the head of the sleeper. The decoration on this pillow features an incised design, delineated with fine lines to create a clear and simplistic representation. The motif includes floral elements, likely peony or chrysanthemum, and foliage, which were popular during the Song and Yuan periods. The carving is subtle yet skillful, showing the artistry and aesthetic preferences of the era. Period : Yuan Dynasty, 13th-14th Century Type : Pillow Medium : Cizhou Ware Provenance : Acquired in late 1990s from Hongkong Reference : 1) Datong Museum - Cizhou Pillow...

An antique and possibly ancient incised Asian Ceramic Container or Incense Box. The piece with a deep Gray glazed surface incised with intricate floral and scrolling pattern with the...

Blue and white hand-painted porcelain plate from the Kangxi period. Finely executed cobalt-blue decoration with characteristic clarity and balance of early Qing craftsmanship. The gl...

This wooden pillow from Shanxi takes the form of a traditional Chinese bench, beautifully miniaturized with a gently curved top surface for resting one's head. What is special about ...

This unusual squat vessel would have been kept near a kang platform to warm one's blankets before bed. Much like a hot water bottle, the ceramic vessel was filled with hot water thro...