A Yuan Qingbai Miniature Iron-Spot Jar

Yuan 1279 - 1368

A Miniature Yuan Iron-Spot Jar of Guan Form, Jingdezhen Kilns, Yuan Dynasty 1279-1368. It would originally have had a cover, either plain, or in the form of a lotus leaf. This small jar is a guan, a shape used during the Yuan period. Small guan can also be found with iron-spot decorated in celadon (see below for an example we sold some years ago). The form was of course used primarily on a larger scale, for example Yuan blue and white porcelain. This Qingbai jar, was sold by Bluett in London, and has their label on the base, with the number 413, perhaps a number from an exhibition. These iron-spot pieces were popular in the Philippines, see Chinesische Keramik auf den Philippinen. They were also popular in China , see Jingdezhen Wares, The Yuan Evolution. A larger (10 cm) Yuan iron-spot jar with a lotus cover in the Capital Museum Collection in Beijing is illustrated in Qingbai Ware, Chinese Porcelain of the Song and Yuan Dynasties. For details of these three pieces see ‘References’.

See Below For More Photographs and Information.

SOLD

Condition
Poor condition, the cover is missing and there are three cracks.
Size
Height 5 cm (2 inches).
Provenance
Bluett London, number 413 (label to base). Collection o Dr. Desmond Laurence. Robert McPherson Antiques, stock number 16637. Bought by Nicholas Thompson (Collection number 342).
Stock number
27259
References
For a similar guan shaped small Yuan iron spot jar with a lotus cover see : Chinesische Keramik auf den Philippinen (Die Sammlung Eric E. Geiling, Bearbeitet von Ulrich Wiesner. Museum für Ostasiatische Kunst. 1977) page 118, plate 76. Another Yuan jar of this type, found in China, is illustrated in Jingdezhen Wares, The Yuan Evolution (Catalogue of an exhibition presented by The Oriental Ceramics Society of Hong Kong and the Fung Ping Shan Museum, University of Hong Kong March 23rd to 31st of May 1984. The Oriental Ceramic Society of Hong Kong 1984) page page 118, item 76. Qingbai Ware, Chinese Porcelain of the Song and Yuan Dynasties (Edited by Stacey Pierson, Percival David Foundation, 2002. ISBN 0-7286-0339-X) page 178, item 96

Photos

Information

A Related Yuan Celadon Iron Spot Jar and Cover

Robert McPherson Antiques - Sold Archive 24638

A Yuan Longquan Celadon ware iron-spot celadon jar and cover, Yuan Dynasty 1279-1368. This unusual small Yuan (1279-1368) jar and cover with its celadon glaze comes from the Longquan Kilns and dates to the end of the 13th or early 14th Century. The glaze is partly degraded due to the piece being from a shipwreck.
SOLD
Condition
There is no damage, however the glaze is of a rather matte appearance due to being immersed in seawater.
Size
Diameter : 8 1.2 cm (3 1/4 inches)
Provenance
Robert McPherson Antiques (stock number 14435). Mrs Helen Espir. R and G McPherson Antiques. A Private English Collection of Early Chinese Ceramics.
Stock number
24638
References
For a similar Yuan celadon jar with iron spot decoration (lacking its cover) see : Chinese Celadons And Other Related Wares In Southeast Asia (Southeast Asian Ceramic Society, Singapore. Arts Orientalis, Singapore.1979). Pages 194-195 plate 121.