AN UNUSUAL LOBED DING WARE ‘HIBISCUS’ BOX AND COVER, NORTHERN SONG TO JIN DYNASTY


Expert’s note:
A distinctive aspect of the Ding kiln in Hebei province is that when placed underneath a very strong light, the white ware develops an orange hue, almost like a corona, especially where the ware is thinning, such as around the foot rim for example. This characteristic aspect makes objects from the Ding kilns easily identifiable and is due to the unique composition of the ware, which is mostly covered by a rather thick pale-ivory glaze. This ding box is also notable for its rather unusual shape for which we could not find any direct comparisons.

China, c. 12th-13th century. The four-lobed square box stands on a short square foot with raised rim, and the cover is decorated with incision work, beading, and a central hibiscus flower medallion with four lines of beading extending from its petals.


Provenance:
From a private collection in the northeastern United States.

Condition:
Very good condition, commensurate with age. Signs of wear and light weathering, minuscule nicks to the edge of base and lid, expected firing flaws including several glaze recesses. The form slightly uneven overall.

Weight: 106 g
Dimensions: Width 7 cm


Molded decoration on Ding wares
was adopted in the latter part of the Northern Song dynasty and flourished during the Jin dynasty. The technique allowed the Ding potters to adopt more complex and also more formal designs. The molds used were meticulously crafted and similar to those used to cast decoration on gold and silver works of art.


Literature comparison:

Compare related a trefoil-shaped 'Ding' box, from the R.F.A. Riesco and Hans Popper collections, illustrated in Song Ceramics from the Hans Popper Collection, Eskenazi, London, 2005, pl. 17. Compare the shape of the present box with the shape of a brush washer, made in imitation of Ding ware, produced at the imperial kilns of Jingdezhen in southern China, c. 1680-1780, and inscribed by Emperor Qianlong, at the Victoria & Albert Museum, London, C.44-1935. Also compare with another unusual lidded box with six applique roundels, Liaoning or Hebei province, Liao dynasty (916-1125), diameter 11.4 cm, in the Avery Brundage Collection, B60P1533.a-.b.




北宋至金定窯海棠口方蓋盒


中國，約十二至十三世紀。四瓣海棠口方盒，子母口，短足，緣凸起。蓋子邊緣串珠紋，中央有一朵芙蓉花。


專家注釋：
河北省定窯的一個獨特之處在於，在強光下，白瓷會呈現出橙色色調，幾乎像日暈，特別是在瓷器變薄的地方，例如足緣周圍。 這一特徵使得定窯的器物很容易辨認，通體覆蓋著相當厚的淡象牙色釉。


來源：
美國東北部私人收藏。

品相：
狀況極好，磨損和輕微風化，底座和蓋子邊緣有微小刻痕、燒製缺陷，包括釉面凹槽。整體形狀略顯不平。

重量：106 克
尺寸：寬7 釐米


定窯紋飾
始於北宋後期，盛於金代。成型技術使設計更複雜。所用模具製作精良，與金銀工藝品鑄造裝飾的模具相似。


文獻比較：

比較一件相近的三葉形定窯方盒，來自R.F.A. Riesco和Hans Popper收藏，見《Song Ceramics from the Hans Popper Collection》，Eskenazi，倫敦，2005年，圖17。比較一件1680-1780年乾隆御題景德鎮仿定窯筆洗，收藏於倫敦維多利亞和亞伯特博物館，編號C.44-1935。比較另一件遼代遼寧和河北省六貼花圓蓋盒，直徑 11.4 釐米，收藏於 Avery Brundage收藏，B60P1533.a-.b。