SONG DYNASTY 960 – 1279 Qingbai Ware

A Song Dynasty (960 – 1279) Qingbai Porcelain Water-Dropper, Probably from a Kiln in Jingdezhen, Possibly Hutian. The Very Small Vessel Moulded in the Form of a Lotus Bud.

SOLD

Condition
In excellent condition. A minute chip to the end of the spout c2mm.
Size
Length : 5.5 cm (2 1/4 inches)
Provenance
The Piccus Collection Robert McPherson Antiques Wendy Beckett (born 25 February 1930), Better known as Sister Wendy. She became well known in the 1990s when she presented a series of documentaries for the BBC on the history of art. In 1970, health problems forced Beckett to abandon teaching and to return to England. She obtained papal permission to leave her congregation and to become a consecrated virgin and hermit. Her former congregation then arranged for her to live under the protection of the Carmelite nuns at their monastery at Quidenham, Norfolk. There she leads a contemplative lifestyle, originally living in a caravan in the grounds, which was later replaced by a mobile home.[3] Besides receiving the Carmelite prioress and a nun who brings her provisions, she dedicates her life solely to solitude and prayer, but allotting two hours of work per day to earn her living. Information and photograph from Wikipedia I got to know Sister Wendy in the 1990`s and on one of her trips to see me she bought this piece. She built up a small collection of oriental ceramics.
Stock number
23800
References
For a Song Qingbai porcelain with similar lotus petal moulding attributed to the Hutian Kilns see : Chai & Hutian Kiln, (Nanning Publishing? 2004. ISBN 7-80674-591-2) page 82 and 83.

Photos

Information

Qingbai Ware :
The earliest known qingbai wares were produced in Jingdezhen in Jiangxi province around the late 10th century and are characterized by faint pale-blue glazes on low, wide forms. Qingbai continued to be enormously popular and highly produced throughout the Song dynasty (960-1279) and was prevalent in the Yuan dynasty (1279-1368), but slackened during the Ming dynasty (1368-1644) until being replaced by tianbai, ‘sweet white’ ware. The initial forms of qingbai were simple bowls and dishes, but by the mid-Northern Song the forms had advanced to include a wide variety of objects used for daily life such as ewers, boxes, incense burners, granary models, vases, jars, sculptures, cups, cupstands, water droppers, lamps, grave wares, and tools for writing and painting. The precedent for the majority of these forms is found in earlier metalwork and lacquer and Rawson has suggested that the imitation of silver was the primary force behind the production of white wares, including qingbai. See our `History` section for more information about Song Porcelain and Stoneware by Mindy M. McDonald.