{"id":5038,"date":"2021-06-17T20:40:56","date_gmt":"2021-06-17T20:40:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pagodared.com\/blog\/?p=5038"},"modified":"2021-06-23T17:15:47","modified_gmt":"2021-06-23T17:15:47","slug":"masters-form-timeless-silhouettes-chinese-vases","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pagodared.com\/blog\/2021\/06\/17\/masters-form-timeless-silhouettes-chinese-vases\/","title":{"rendered":"Masters of Form: The Timeless Silhouettes of Chinese Vases"},"content":{"rendered":"

The forms found in Chinese ceramics, many rooted in the style of the Song dynasty (960-1279), appear to be extremely simple, with wonderfully fluid design, making it\u00a0hard to know where the neck commences, the body leaves off, or the foot begins. Since a textural history tracking the evolution of a ceramic silhouette is not always available, collectors and curators alike prioritize visual observations of shape as the dominant aesthetic element.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ginger Jar and Baluster Jar<\/h2>\n

Traditionally, the ginger jar (below)\u00a0has a short and round silhouette with a flattop lid. The Chinese traditionally used these jars to store a variety of goods, including ginger, salt, oils and other spices. The jars became known as \u201cginger jars\u201d because they often contained ginger when they were exported to the West, largely for decorative purposes. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Early 20th-century Persimmon Ginger Jar with Cartouche Paintings<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

The baluster jar has a tall feminine silhouette with broad shoulders and a body that either tapers to the foot or pinches at the waist then elegantly fans near its foot. The baluster jar is capped by a relatively tall bell-shaped lid, usually crowned with a figure such as a fu dog or an oval pinnacle. Although the lovely casual shape of the ginger jar could never be mistaken for the sophisticated baluster, the name ginger jar often encompasses both shapes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Famille Rose Scholarly Gathering Baluster Jar<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

Both are\u00a0innovations of Yuan dynasty (1279-1368)\u00a0potters, perhaps it is their similar beginnings that tie them to each\u00a0other. To the contemporary\u00a0eye,\u00a0baluster and ginger jars may seem like familiar jar shapes, especially in comparison to the dramatic silhouettes of the bottle and meiping vases. However, the combination of folk ware with the rich decoration of these jars (such as lids and decorative handles) would have been considered barbarous during the Song dynasty (960-1279). Instead, they were admired and made popular by the Mongol ruling class during the Yuan dynasty.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Pair of Prosperity Ginger Jars, circa 1900<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

Meiping Vase<\/h2>\n

Admirers say the \u201cmeiping (\u6885 \u74f6)\u201d vase, which translates to \u2018plum vase\u2019 (below) embodies ideal features\u2013large \u201cbosom\u201d and tapered waist. It is a shape often found\u00a0in Cizhou stoneware, the common ware of Northern China, named after the\u00a0kiln-site town of Cizhou. Others note the vessel\u2019s pursed lip and delicate neck, which dramatically opens to a broad shoulder and gradually narrows to a foot.\u00a0It is believed that the narrow mouth was intended to hold a single plum blossom branch, thus showcasing the subtle elegant beauty of nature. \u00a0Hence the wonderful play of words, with mei (\u7f8e) also meaning \u2018beautiful\u2019.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

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Petite Crackled Meiping Vases<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

Bottle Vase<\/h2>\n

The bottle vase (below)\u00a0is<\/span>\u00a0<\/b>purely a ceramic form, however, scholars believe ceramists were likely imitating similar silhouettes from ancient bronze vessels. It\u2019s bulbous belly that\u00a0barely tapers to the foot balances it\u2019s dramatically long neck. Hard and soft, slender and round, the bottle vase embodies the spirit of yin and\u00a0yang, harmoniously matching opposite aesthetics in one silhouette.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

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Dingyao Porcelain Vase, circa 1100<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

Double Gourd<\/h2>\n

China\u2019s decorative arts borrowed inspiration from the natural world. The double gourd vessel (below)\u00a0demonstrates the integration of nature, function and technical agility.\u00a0As the technical knowledge of ceramics improved amongst Chinese\u00a0potters, the shapes and sizes of pieces became more elaborate, thus sophisticated shapes such as the double gourd emerged.<\/span>\u00a0<\/b>The tight tubular mouth and neck juxtaposed against the graceful curves of the double gourd highlight how effortless and fluid the vessel appears to be crafted.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Pair of Blue and White Double Gourd Vases<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

Fish Pond \/ Dragon Urn<\/h2>\n

The fish pond is named so due to it\u2019s large size\u2014enabling an indoor or outdoor fish pool, a creative alternative to the modern aquarium. Such large works demonstrate tremendous technical ability. It is likely that their shear size contributed to the traditional name \u2018dragon urn.\u2019\u00a0 These urns are either rendered with straight sides and a squared lip or slightly rounded sides with a large rounded lip.\u00a0<\/span>The ornamentation is alive with movement. Our examples show\u00a0a\u00a0magpie, a symbol of good fortune and talismans of marital happiness when depicted as a pair. Naturally, the viewer\u2019s eye follows the urns\u2019 turns and form, reinforcing the imagery.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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“Magpies in the Garden” Blue and White Fish Bowl<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

Phoenix\u00a0Tail Vase<\/h2>\n

Another\u00a0gorgeous shape is the\u00a0phoenix tail vase (below), with it\u2019s delicate hourglass form. One might see a narrow waist and\u00a0wide hips in between it\u2019s\u00a0flared mouth and petite foot. This\u00a0shape\u00a0was first produced with celadon ware in the Yuan dynasty. As time went on, and\u00a0it became more common, it\u00a0could also be\u00a0found in a variety of colors. The exaggerated mouth and belly require perfect proportions in order for the piece to maintain its balance, both functionally and aesthetically. Although significantly smaller than the fish bowls previously mentioned,\u00a0the creation of the\u00a0dramatic form of the phoenix tail vase demonstrates a potter\u2019s\u00a0skill.<\/span><\/p>\n

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19th-century Four Seasons Phoenix Tail Vase<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

Yi Tong Vase<\/h2>\n

\u2018Yi Tong\u2019 means \u2018being straight\u2019 in Chinese. It is also a pun on \u2018unification,\u2019 implying a kingdom unified. Unlike the curvaceous shapes previously mentioned, the Yi Tong is a clean, cylindrical silhouette. Our example is adorned with figures in\u00a0a scene from court life.\u00a0\u00a0Like a simple floral design emphasizes form, the narrative of a figure painting requires the viewer to engage with the piece, circumambulating it in order to take in the entire scene.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Gilt Yi Tong Vase, circa 1850<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

Chinese ceramics remain the admiration as well as a worthy goal of the modern potter. They are the classic expression of ceramic art, achieving an unsurpassed integration of shape, glaze and decoration. Tall, short, curvaceous or slender, Chinese ceramics highlight that beauty comes in all shapes and sizes.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Shop the Story<\/h2>\n

Vases & Jars<\/a><\/p>\n\n\t\t