Celadon Green Glazed Jar

Dated to the early 19th century, this round, lidded jar is dressed in a pale blue-green glaze that beautifully exhibits its age. Fired with a crackled finish and textured by pitted wear, the glaze sheets, pools, and drips across the jar's low relief decoration, resulting in a wide range of cool tones. Although the decoration has weathered from a century of use, one can still make out a scene of mythical creatures amidst swirling clouds, bordered by a band of auspicious ruyi, symbols of immortality. Likely used for everyday storage, this little jar is a gorgeous example of provincial Chinese celadon ware, poetically described in ancient texts as the "full moon dyed with spring water."