Yue ware covered box with design of three flowers

Historical period(s)
Northern Song dynasty, late 10th century
Medium
Stoneware with gray-green translucent glaze
Style
Yue ware
Dimensions
H x Diam: 5.2 × 13.7 cm (2 1/16 × 5 3/8 in)
Geography
China, Zhejiang province, Shanglinhu kilns
Credit Line
Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment
Collection
Freer Gallery of Art
Accession Number
F1944.12a-c
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Ceramic, Container
Type

Box

Keywords
China, flower, Northern Song dynasty (960 - 1127), stoneware, Yue ware
Provenance
Provenance research underway.
Label

This box was made at a late Yue-ware kiln around the time the Longquan kilns were beginning to produce a distinctive ware. The flat shape of the cover came into vogue during the Northern Song dynasty (960-1127). The subtle, translucent gray-green glaze accents the molded peony motif, which is further enhanced with delicate incising and combing. The fluid design and its dense arrangement over the cover's entire surface are typical of the finest Northern Song Yue ware.

Published References
  • Oriental Ceramics: The World's Great Collections. 12 vols., Tokyo. vol. 10, pl. 14.
  • G. St. G.M. Gompertz. Chinese Celadon Wares. Faber Monographs on Pottery and Porcelain London. pl. 18a.
  • Dr. John Alexander Pope, Thomas Lawton, Harold P. Stern. The Freer Gallery of Art. 2 vols., Washington and Tokyo, 1971-1972. cat. 123, vol. 1: p. 178.
  • Grace Dunham Guest, Archibald Gibson Wenley. Annotated Outlines of the History of Chinese Arts. Washington, 1949. p. 9.
  • Masterpieces of Chinese and Japanese Art: Freer Gallery of Art handbook. Washington, 1976. p. 66.
Collection Area(s)
Chinese Art
Web Resources
Google Cultural Institute
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