Chinese White Glaze Xingyao Pentalobe Tea Cup

A Chinese white glaze xingyao pentalobe tea cup, Late Tang to…
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A Chinese white glaze xingyao pentalobe tea cup, Late Tang to Five Dynasties, 10th century, elegantly shaped in the form of a prunus blossom with a faintly recessed rim to the centre, covered inside and out with a glaze of slightly greyish tone falling short at the foot rim to expose the white biscuit, 13 cm diam., 4 cm high, Footnote: Compare a similar cup catalogued in Watson, William, Tang and Liao Ceramics, Thames and Hudson, 1984, P.135. According to Watson, the five-lobed shape is 'one of the most elegant forms produced in answer to late Tang fashion as dictated by silverware'. In Regina Krahl's 'Bright as silver, white as snow - white wares of north and south China', Krahl offers readers a clear lineage of the development of the Xing and Ding of Hebei in the North, and Qingbai in the south. They peaked in their quality one after another with close connections and imitations amongst each other. During the mid-Tang dynasty the quality of Xing kilns increased and their wares became more distinctive, with a more porcelaneous body, smoother glaze. The Ding kilns closely copied Xing ware during the period without quite reaching its quality until the Northern Song Dynasty. Jingdezhen in Jiangxi province was active from at least the Five Dynasties period onwards. It's production is known by the descriptive term qingbai which characterises the colour as bluish-white, which was characteristic of Xing and early Ding wares (compare lot 215 and 214). Qingbai wares developed in a similar manner as Ding: as dishes and bowls became thinner during the Northern Song dynasty, they were fired upside down to prevent warping, the rim being left unglazed and later bound in metal. Towards the end of the Southern Song and in the following Yuan dynasty moulded designs largely replaced carved ones (See Lot 216)

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  • 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.  
  • Chinese Ding Porcelain - Ding ware is a type of Chinese porcelain that was produced in the northern city of Ding in the Hebei province during the Song Dynasty (960-1279). It is considered to be one of the "Five Great Kilns" of Chinese ceramics, along with Jian, Jun, Guan, and Ru wares.

    Ding ware is known for its fine white porcelain body, which was made from kaolin clay, and its elegant shapes and designs. The glaze on Ding ware is usually transparent and has a bluish-white or grayish-white color. It was often decorated with underglaze blue or iron-brown designs.

    Ding ware was highly prized during the Song Dynasty, and it was exported throughout Asia and as far as the Middle East and the Mediterranean. It was also an inspiration for other porcelain-making centers in China and Japan. The production of Ding ware declined after the Song Dynasty, and it is now considered to be a rare and valuable collectible.

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