A Ming 16th Century Cizhou Stoneware Dish

Ming 16th Century.

A Ming Cizhou Stoneware Dish, North China, Probably Hebei, Henan or Shanxi Kilns, c.16th Century. The Ming dish is boldly decorated using iron-oxide, with a quickly drawn central character and simple concentric borders on a cream-coloured slip ground. The character in cursive script is probably Fu which bestows good fortune, blessings, happiness etc. The foot shows marks where it has been supported in the kiln. Dishes of this type are normally dated to the Jin or Yuan dynasty, as they are similar to known dishes from that period, often decorated in thin overglaze enamel colours. I went along with that dating, however the present example is somewhat different. I think this dish relates for more closely to the two 16th century Ming examples below. As far as I am aware, there are no other dishes of this type dated with such a late date, so perhaps I am wrong. See below for a Ming Cizhou elephant from the collection of Nicholas Thompson (1928-2010) and a 16th Century Cizhou jar.

See Below For More Photographs and Information.

SALE PENDING

Condition
In good condition, minute frit to the rim, very light staining.
Size
Diameter 19.1 cm (7 1/2 inches). Depth 4.7 cm (1.8 inches).
Provenance
Purchased in Japan.
Stock number
25817

Photos

Information

A Small Ming Cizhou Type Painted Jar, Mid-16th Century.

Robert McPherson Antiques - Sold Archive - 26452

A Small Ming Cizhou Type Painted Jar, Mid-16th Century. This small guan type stoneware jar is painted in iron-oxide on a cream slipped ground, the thin glaze stops above and below the last iron-brown line, above the splayed foot. The interior is glazed in brown iron-oxide. Using quickly applied marks the painter has created a lively design, comprising of two joined panels, each showing a crane among plants. Post-Yuan Cizhou ware is often rather difficult to date, and pieces like the present example are often dated earlier than they should be. This jar with its distinctive painting style closely relates to a larger, more sophisticated jar, dated 1541 (Ming, Jiajing Period) in the Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art, Cornell University. This dated jar is illustrated in Freedom of Clay and Brush through Seven Centuries in Northern China (see references). 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 There are two large chips to the flared base. Despite the top rim being glazed this Ming jar would have had a cover. Size Height 9.7 cm (3 3/4 inches) Provenance From a Japanese collection. Stock number 26452 References Freedom of Clay and Brush through Seven Centuries in Northern China ; Tz'u-chou Type Wares 960-1600 ( Yutaka Mino, Indiana University Press. ISBN 0-253-25575-6)
A Small Ming Cizhou Type Painted Jar, Mid-16th Century. This small guan type stoneware jar is painted in iron-oxide on a cream slipped ground, the thin glaze stops above and below the last iron-brown line, above the splayed foot. The interior is glazed in brown iron-oxide. Using quickly applied marks the painter has created a lively design, comprising of two joined panels, each showing a crane among plants. Post-Yuan Cizhou ware is often rather difficult to date, and pieces like the present example are often dated earlier than they should be. This jar with its distinctive painting style closely relates to a larger, more sophisticated jar, dated 1541 (Ming, Jiajing Period) in the Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art, Cornell University. This dated jar is illustrated in Freedom of Clay and Brush through Seven Centuries in Northern China (see references). 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.

Condition
There are two large chips to the flared base. Despite the top rim being glazed this Ming jar would have had a cover.
Size
Height 9.7 cm (3 3/4 inches)
Provenance
From a Japanese collection.
Stock number
26452
References
Freedom of Clay and Brush through Seven Centuries in Northern China ; Tz'u-chou Type Wares 960-1600 ( Yutaka Mino, Indiana University Press. ISBN 0-253-25575-6)

 

A Small Ming Cizhou Type Painted Model of an Elephant,

16th Century, Probably Jiajing or Wanli c.1550 – 1600.

Robert McPherson Antiques - Sold Archive - 26661.

A Small Ming Cizhou Type Painted Model of an Elephant, 16th Century, Probably Jiajing or Wanli c.1550 – 1600. This small model of an elephant is painted in iron-oxide over a cream slipped ground, the thin glaze stops above the lower part of the base, which four feet. This unusual model is incomplete, there would have been a decorative element on the elephants back in the form of a lotus flower, perhaps it was an incense or candle stick holder. Such objects were used on family or temple shrines. 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. See below for more photographs and references. SOLD Condition Poor, the top is missing, it was probably an incense or candle stick holder, which would have been of lotus form. You can see its lotus petal edge on the top of the elephant. The missing section has been hidden with a painted plaster like material. There is a crude repair to the outside of part of the base, below the elephants back left leg. Size Height 11.7 cm (4 1/2 inches). Length 10.6 cm (4 1/4 inches). Provenance Nicholas de la Mare Thompson (1928-2010). Stock number 26661
A Small Ming Cizhou Type Painted Model of an Elephant, 16th Century, Probably Jiajing or Wanli c.1550 – 1600. This small model of an elephant is painted in iron-oxide over a cream slipped ground, the thin glaze stops above the lower part of the base, which four feet. This unusual model is incomplete, there would have been a decorative element on the elephants back in the form of a lotus flower, perhaps it was an incense or candle stick holder. Such objects were used on family or temple shrines.
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.
See below for more photographs and references.

Condition
Poor, the top is missing, it was probably an incense or candle stick holder, which would have been of lotus form. You can see its lotus petal edge on the top of the elephant. The missing section has been hidden with a painted plaster like material. There is a crude repair to the outside of part of the base, below the elephants back left leg.
Size
Height 11.7 cm (4 1/2 inches). Length 10.6 cm (4 1/4 inches).
Provenance
Nicholas de la Mare Thompson (1928-2010).
Stock number
26661