The origin of Chinese celadon originated from the Shang and Zhou dynasties. According to the unearthed artifacts and kiln sites, printed pottery and "primitive celadon" with lower firing temperatures had already appeared in eastern Zhejiang at that time, laying the groundwork for the development of early celadon. By the late Eastern Han Dynasty, the remnants of Yue kiln blue glazed printed porcelain Lei unearthed from the ancient kiln site in front of Shangyu Kiln Temple in Zhejiang Province were known to have reached the "high-temperature porcelain" standard of 1300 ℃ when fired. The original blue porcelain was thus regarded as a turning point towards firing mature porcelain. Celadon kilns in eastern Zhejiang sprang up like bamboo shoots after a spring rain in the Three Kingdoms, the Eastern and Western Jin Dynasties, and the Northern and Southern dynasties. Celadon quality continued to improve, and finally the most famous celadon kiln system, Yue Kiln, was brewed in the Tang Dynasty and the Five Dynasties.
Yue Kiln was founded and fired in the Eastern Han Dynasty, and can be called the "mother of celadon". Kiln sites are mainly distributed in the Ningshao Plain area. Due to the large kiln system, the porcelain produced is of excellent refinement, and among them, "secret colored porcelain" is the most praised. The Yue kiln not only had a profound impact on the surrounding kiln systems inside and outside Zhejiang Province, but also benefited the celadon kiln systems in the north. Firstly, there was North Yaozhou, followed by South Longquan. Yue Kiln, Yaozhou ware and Longquan Kiln fired celadon at the same time in the Tang and Song Dynasties. The three kilns are linked in craftsmanship and decoration, and pass on each other.
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Northern Song Dynasty Jin Yaozhou ware blue glaze bowl with child flower pattern
Diameter 5 inches (12.7 centimeters)
Valuation: HKD 180000-260000
Presented at Christie's Hong Kong Ancient and Modern | Christie's Auction on October 4, 2018
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Gold Yaozhou ware blue glaze bowl with peony pattern
Diameter 6 7/8 inches (17.5 centimeters)
Valuation: 60000- HKD 80000 Hong Kong dollars
Presented at Christie's Hong Kong Antiquity | Christie's auction on October 4, 2018
Yaozhou ware was founded in the Tang Dynasty. Centered in Huangbao Town, Tongchuan, Shaanxi Province, northern China, several kilns are distributed along the Qishui River basin. At the beginning, black glazed and white glazed porcelain was fired, but in the Five Dynasties, celadon was mainly fired. Lu You in the Southern Song Dynasty wrote in the Notes of Laoxue Temple that "celadon came out of Yaozhou, which is called Yue ware, and seems to be similar to the secret color of Yuyao County." It can be seen that the celadon of Yaozhou ware came from Yue kiln. Yaozhou ware reached its peak in the Song Dynasty. In addition to celadon, Yaozhou also fired paste glaze and Tianmu Kiln glazed porcelain in the Song Dynasty. According to the Deying Marquis Stele carved on September 18, the seventh year of Yuanfeng (1084), "It is as skillful as gold, and more refined than jade. When the earth is first mixed into the body, the runner is made, and the size of the circle is consistent with the rules.... When you hit it, it sounds as loud as it is; when you look at its color, it feels as warm as it is." The level of Yaozhou ware's firing can be seen at that time. Not only that, Yaozhou celadon evolved into a thick glaze like a pile of fat in the Jin Dynasty, with a bright and elegant glaze color that appears white in blue, which is an important feature of this period.
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Song/Jin Yaozhou ware celadon plate
9 inches (22.9 centimeters) in diameter
Valuation: HKD 50000-100000
Presented at Christie's Hong Kong Antiquity | Christie's auction on October 4, 2018
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Celadon carved bowls from Yaozhou ware in the 11th/12th centuries of the Northern Song Dynasty
Diameter 5 ¼ Inches (13 centimeters)
Valuation: HKD 50000-70000
Presented at Christie's Hong Kong Antiquity | Christie's auction on October 4, 2018
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In the seventh year of Yuanfeng in the Northern Song Dynasty (1084), the first axis of the Yaozhou ware god tablet was expanded
Length 49 ¼ Inches (125 centimeters), width 24 ¼ Inches (61.6 centimeters)
Valuation: HKD 20000-30000
Presented at Christie's Hong Kong Antiquity | Christie's auction on October 4, 2018
The Longquan kiln, located in Nanshan District, Zhejiang Province, also carries the legacy of the Yue kiln. From the Five Dynasties to the Northern Song Dynasty, it rose rapidly in southern China. At this time, the quality of celadon was greatly improved, especially at the two sites of Dayao and Jincun in Longquan County, Zhejiang Province, where the celadon was the most refined. The celadon produced in Dayao District is very similar to the celadon of the Yue family. Tracing back to the records of the Song Dynasty, it is also known that there must be a succession relationship between Longquan and Yue Kiln in the Northern Song Dynasty. However, during the Northern Song Dynasty, Longquan's body was thick and the glaze was thin, with a greenish brown glaze color. Its celadon products did not achieve a leap in development until the Southern Song Dynasty. In pursuit of a green and jade like glaze layer, a unique style was formed with changes in glaze color as the main decoration. Whether it was pink green or plum green glaze, the celadon craftsmanship had reached its peak in the Southern Song and Yuan dynasties. The excavation of the Fengdongyan site in Dayao further confirms that Longquan had a breakthrough and important position in the early Ming Dynasty due to being ordered to burn porcelain for the court.
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Southern Song Dynasty Longquan Kiln Imitated Official Kiln Small Bowl
Diameter 3 ½ Inches (8.8 centimeters)
Valuation: HKD 50000-80000
Presented at Christie's Hong Kong Antiquity | Christie's auction on October 4, 2018
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Yuan Longquan Kiln Blue Glaze Scratched Flower Printed Sea Beast Hundred Lu Pattern Jar
8 3/8 inches (21.3 cm) high
Valuation: HKD 50000-100000
Presented at Christie's Hong Kong Antiquity | Christie's auction on October 4, 2018
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Yuan/Ming 14th Century Longquan Kiln Blue Glaze Carved Rhinoceros Watching the Moon Picture Kui Style Plate
Diameter 5 ¾ Inches (14.7 centimeters)
Valuation: HKD 80000-120000
Presented at Christie's Hong Kong Antiquity | Christie's auction on October 4, 2018.
Yaozhou ware and Longquan Kiln were inspired by the celadon glaze of Yue Kiln, but the carving decoration of Yue Kiln and Longquan Kiln was influenced by the carving technology of Yaozhou ware one after another. Based on the single color of celadon glaze, in the overall design and decoration, the pursuit of aesthetic lines is even more intense. Yaozhou ware first imitated the carving process of gold and silver ware in the Tang Dynasty by means of carving and relatively simple decorations. Continuous patterns began to be seen in the Five Dynasties, and after the Song Dynasty, patterns and compositions became more diverse - using simple shapes, flexible pointed objects such as bamboo, wood, bone, etc., to carve, scratch, scratch, seal and other decorations with a wide cutting technique of oblique knives, and with radial, centripetal, continuous, symmetrical and other structural patterns, the overall pattern is clear, complex and not messy. As for Longquan, in addition to the early carving decoration similar to Yaozhou celadon, later decorative techniques such as mold printing, decals, stippling, and exposed tire were developed. The warm and implicit beauty of celadon is fully demonstrated.
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Late Yuan/Early Ming Longquan Kiln Blue Glazed High Foot Bowl
High 3 ½ Inches (8.9 centimeters)
Valuation: HKD 30000-50000
Presented at Christie's Hong Kong Antiquity | Christie's auction on October 4, 2018
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Yuan/Ming 14th Century Longquan Kiln Blue Glaze Flower Scratched Fragrant Wine Pattern Jar
9 7/8 inches (25 centimeters) high
Valuation: HKD 180000-220000
Presented at Christie's Hong Kong Antiquity | Christie's auction on October 4, 2018
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Ming Dynasty 15th Century Longquan Kiln Blue Glaze with Flower Patterns on Large Plate
Diameter 19 ¼ Inches (49 centimeters)
Valuation: HKD 50000-70000
Presented at Christie's Hong Kong Antiquity | Christie's auction on October 4, 2018
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