An Introduction to Song Ceramics | Christie's

Robert D. Mowry, Senior Consultant at Christie’s in New York, explains why these four Song dynasty Chinese vessels from the Linyushanren Collection are ‘the ultimate achievement in their techniques’.

Ceramics are among the most complicated, most involved works of art,’ says Robert D. Mowry, Senior Alan J. Dworsky Curator of Chinese Art Emeritus, Harvard Art Museums, and Senior Consultant at Christie’s in New York. ‘There are the clays, the glazes, the different decorative types; then there are the kilns and the firing temperatures. So many things have to be exactly right to achieve perfection.’

Song dynasty (960-1279) ceramics have straightforward shapes and, says Mowry, are mostly ‘characterised by light-coloured, subtly-hued glazes’. Though kilns often produced various types of wares, in general each was known for producing a specific type of ware. The Ding kilns, which are best known for their creamy white porcelains, also produced the short, conical Ding ware bowl (shown below), which with its black glaze over a white porcelain body, is ‘the rarest of the rare’. It features particularly fine partridge feather mottles — brown flecks which are splashed on to the surface of the glaze. Gaps in the glaze on the bowl’s foot-ring indicate where the potter gripped it with his fingers.

Find out more: http://www.christies.com/features/My-Passion-Song-Ceramics-8906-3.aspx?sc_lang=en#FID-8906

--

Subscribe to Christie's YouTube: http://goo.gl/Vmh7Hf

Sign up to Christie's Weekly: https://goo.gl/kc8qpV

Follow Christie's on:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Christies
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChristiesInc
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christiesinc
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/christiesinc

Видео An Introduction to Song Ceramics | Christie's канала Christie's