A Chinese ‘Cizhou Type’ Pottery Pillow, Song Dynasty c.12th Century
A Song or Jin Cizhou type pottery pillow with Sgraffiato combed and engraved decoration, c.12th Century. The incised decoration to the top is combed with wavy lines within a scratched triple border. There is a small air hole to the base, this allowed expanding hot air to escape the hollow pillow during firing. The base and sides show finger marks in the slip which were made by the potter. The name Cizhou originated from the ancient area of Cizhou, encompassing a broad arc across China, which was first recorded during the Sui dynasty (581-618). However, the location constantly shifted and though the area of Cizhou is mentioned in the Tang dynasty (618-906) and Five Dynasties (906-960), each referred to an altered location. During the Song, Jin (1125-1234), Yuan (1279-1368), and partly into the Ming dynasties (1368-1644) the kiln areas of Cizhou were primarily concentrated in the northern provinces of Hebei, Henan, and Shaanxi.
SOLD
- Condition
- No damage but some signs of burial, especially on the top.
- Size
- Length : 28 cm (11 inches)
- Provenance
- N/A
- Stock number
- 26002
- References
- For related Cizhou pillows see : The Freedom of Clay and Brush Through Seven Centuries in Northern China : Tz`u-chou Type Wares, 960 – 1660 A.D. (Yutaka Mino, Indianapolis Museum of Art,1981).
Photos
Information
Cizhou Ware
The name Cizhou originated from the ancient area of Cizhou, encompassing a broad arc across China, which was first recorded during the Sui dynasty (581-618). However, the location constantly shifted and though the area of Cizhou is mentioned in the Tang dynasty (618-906) and Five Dynasties (906-960), each referred to an altered location. During the Song, Jin (1125-1234), Yuan (1279-1368), and partly into the Ming dynasties (1368-1644) the kiln areas of Cizhou were primarily concentrated in the northern provinces of Hebei, Henan, and Shaanxi.