Bottle
12th century (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
This brilliant sky-blue bottle belongs to a type of ceramics known as Jun ware. Chinese ceramics are often categorized by the geographical area in which they were made, as the kilns of a particular region often made only one or two types of ceramics at a given time in history. Jun ware was produced in the kilns of the Henan province and its height of production was during the Song dynasty (960-1279). It can be identified visually by its coarse stoneware body and its shiny blue glaze. This bottle features an additional characteristic in its copper-red spot on one side, the result of the presence of a copper-rich pigment on the ceramic body beneath the glaze.
Some types of Chinese ceramics were made exclusively for the imperial household. Jun wares, however, were mostly made for popular use and were not widely collected before the late Ming dynasty, when they were first mentioned in scholarly writings. By the Qing dynasty their status had elevated, when the Qianlong emperor (reigned 1736-95) was an admirer of them and used them for decorating his domestic spaces.
Some types of Chinese ceramics were made exclusively for the imperial household. Jun wares, however, were mostly made for popular use and were not widely collected before the late Ming dynasty, when they were first mentioned in scholarly writings. By the Qing dynasty their status had elevated, when the Qianlong emperor (reigned 1736-95) was an admirer of them and used them for decorating his domestic spaces.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Materials and techniques | Stoneware, glazed |
Brief description | Vase, stoneware with blue glaze, Jun ware, China, Northern Song-Jin dynasty, 12th century |
Physical description | Jun ware bottle, stoneware with blue glaze |
Dimensions |
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Styles | |
Gallery label | Vase with sky-blue glaze
China, Jun kilns
Northern Song or Jin
dynasty, 1100–1200
Jun wares are one of the Five Great Song Ceramics. Although coarsely potted, they are remarkable for their subtly coloured glazes, which are a great technical feat. Careful control of the cooling process allowed pinhole bubbles to form within the glaze.
These refract the light, enhancing the glaze colour. Here the visual impact is heightened by a single splash of purple.
Glazed stoneware, splashed with copper
Museum no. FE.156-1975
Sir John Addis Gift(September 2009) |
Credit line | Given by Sir John Addis |
Summary | This brilliant sky-blue bottle belongs to a type of ceramics known as Jun ware. Chinese ceramics are often categorized by the geographical area in which they were made, as the kilns of a particular region often made only one or two types of ceramics at a given time in history. Jun ware was produced in the kilns of the Henan province and its height of production was during the Song dynasty (960-1279). It can be identified visually by its coarse stoneware body and its shiny blue glaze. This bottle features an additional characteristic in its copper-red spot on one side, the result of the presence of a copper-rich pigment on the ceramic body beneath the glaze. Some types of Chinese ceramics were made exclusively for the imperial household. Jun wares, however, were mostly made for popular use and were not widely collected before the late Ming dynasty, when they were first mentioned in scholarly writings. By the Qing dynasty their status had elevated, when the Qianlong emperor (reigned 1736-95) was an admirer of them and used them for decorating his domestic spaces. |
Bibliographic references |
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Collection | |
Accession number | FE.156-1975 |
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Record created | January 19, 2005 |
Record URL |
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