Ewer with peony pattern and decorative cutting of Yaozhou Kiln Song Dynasty H:12.5cm

Yaozhou Kiln porcelain has a variety of porcelain wares with attractive shape and is as skillful as gold. Its enamel is as glittering, translucent and mile as crystal and its decorative cutting is incisive, free and easy, which is popular among people of all classes at that time. Yaozhou porcelain had affected the entire system of porcelain manufacture in the Song Dynasty. A gentleman’s character is compared to jade, while people in the Song Dynasty bestow the character to porcelain. Yaozhou porcelain, which is as beautiful as jasper, has all kinds of styles, and its decoration methods almost contain any manufacturing methods of porcelain kiln in the Song Dynasty. The decorative cutting of Yaozhou porcelain reached its peak in the Northern Song Dynasty, that is the three-dimensional effect of the incised floral design, sculpture and appliqué and also has reflected the freedom and delicacy of engraving and drawing, and is decorated with jade-like enamel showing different shades of colors, which makes it the elegant texture of the monochrome enamel as that of the five famous kiln.
Celadon is the main porcelain of Yaozhou Kiln in the later Song Dynasty, with thin and ductile molding bed. Its enamel is smooth, well-spread green-blue color and luster with half translucent appearance, showing excellent elegance. Celadon is decorated with carved and printing patterns, which has a tightly knit structure and a free flowing line. The emblazonry almost covers its inside and outside with a great variety, including peony, chrysanthemum, lotus, fish, ducks, dragons and phoenixes, etc. Its style is extensive, beautiful, vivid and natural. In terms of shapes, the ware includes bowls, plates, bottles, cans, ewer, incense burners, champignon，shallow tray, warming bowl and sake jug，alms bowl，etc.
Yaozhou Kiln is most famous among the northern celadon kilns of the Song Dynasty and can be the best one in Chu region (the central China), which had served the court with porcelain for thirty years from Emperor Shenzong (1078-1085) to Emperor Huizong（1102-1106）. Its extraordinary porcelain making skills and free and easy style of porcelain production had a significant effect on the kilns and had been widely promoted, from which a wide range of Yaozhou kiln system from north to south was formed. Huangbao Town is the center of Yaozhou kiln system which includes Yiyang Kiln of Henan, Baofeng Kiln, Chengguan Kiln of Xin’an, Xicun Kiln of Guangdong,Yongfu Kiln of Guangxi, Dayaodian Kiln of Neixiang and so on.
This type of ewer is the typical model of Yaozhou Kiln in the middle and late of the Northern Song Dynasty, with small tray mouth and straight body. The flow-out mouth is cast away slightly, with robust and sturdy shape. Although small, it looks great. With the compacted molding bed, the entire ewer is carved with peony design. In addition, the Qi channel is connected, making it vivid and natural. It is like the moment when the Yang energy of March spring is filled everywhere, therefore vigorous. Its glaze is yellowed slightly against the blue green, with strong feeling of glass. Some bubbles on it are small, while others are big. The glazed layer varies greatly with the streaks of carved patterns as well as the drape; accordingly, it is named the highest-quality porcelain with carved pattern in Yaozhou Kiln. From this, we can get some clue of its quality reputation. Most wares from Yaozhou Kiln are round, such as bowls, plates, etc and such ware shape as the ewer is extremely rare.