Song Dynasty Chinese Stoneware Vase with Purple Glaze, 16cm Height

• Basalt - Basalt is a hard, dense volcanic rock formed from the rapid cooling of basaltic lava, and makes up most of the earth's oceanic crust.
  
  However it is also the name given by Josiah Wedgwood in 1768 to a fine black unglazed porcelain which he called Wedgwood Black Basalt.
  
  Using this fine-grained stoneware he was able to produce copies of the newly excavated Etruscan pottery from Italy, with a lustrous and smooth, surface, and this new innovation proved to be a huge commercial success.
• Everted - An everted rim is an outwardly turning or flaring outwards rim, as seen the rims on jugs, vases, bowls and dishes.
• Song Dynasty - The Song Dynasty was a ruling dynasty in China from 960 to 1279 AD. It was divided into two periods, the Northern Song (960?1127) and the Southern Song (1127?1279). The emperor was the ultimate authority, but he relied on officials who were selected based on their merit and skills rather than their family background or social status. The Song Dynasty was a period of great artistic and cultural achievements, particularly in the areas of poetry, painting, and calligraphy. The Chinese invented the printing press during this period, which revolutionized the spread of knowledge and ideas. During the Song Dynasty, China had a prosperous economy and was a centre of international trade, particularly in luxury goods such as silk, tea, and porcelain. The use of paper money became more widespread during this period, facilitating commerce and trade.  

This item has been included into following indexes:

• Asian antiquities - other 1,244
• Chinese antiquities by dynasty - Song Dynasty 648