slender meiping shape with rounded shoulders and reel-top mouth; white slip over grey stoneware; central band of carved scrolling floral branches

Vase, late 13th century

Unknown artist, expand_more

This tall, slender, meiping shape vase displays an exceptionally well-cut floral design. The vessel was first covered with a white slip through which the decoration was incised. The areas intended as background were then shaved away to reveal the light-grey stoneware body of the vase. Finally, the entire vessel was given a transparent glaze before firing. This so-called "cut-glaze" (tihua) technique had been used at Cizhou type kilns throughout north China since the Jin dynasty (1115-1234).

Recently excavated kilns near Lingwu in northern Ningxia, Huici autonomous region, reveal that the area produced excellent wares during the twelfth and thirteenth centuries of the Xixia period (1032-1227). The black and white "cut-glaze" wares of these kilns included a large variety of bottle-vase forms. Black glazes predominated, however, and white glaze vessels of this size, condition, and design quality are relatively rare.

Details
Title
Vase
Role
Artist
Accession Number
2001.8
Curator Approved

This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.

Does something look wrong with this image? Let us know

Zoom in on the left to the detail you'd like to save. Click 'Save detail' and wait until the image updates. Right click the image to 'save image as' or copy link, or click the image to open in a new tab.

slender meiping shape with rounded shoulders and reel-top mouth; white slip over grey stoneware; central band of carved scrolling floral branches