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brush-washer
Object Type
brush-washer
Museum number
PDF.76
Description
Ru stoneware brush-washer of elliptical form, with rounded sides, two fish incised on the interior, and a recessed circle in the centre of the base. The brush-washer has blue-grey glaze with slight lavender tone and fine crackle. . There are three oval spur marks on the base.
Cultures/periods
Northern Song dynasty
Production date
1086-1125
Production place
Made in:
Henan (province)
Materials
stoneware
Ware
Ru Ware
Technique
glazed
incised
Dimensions
Height:
29 millimetres
Width:
145 millimetres
Depth:
101 millimetres
Curator's comments
Published PDF date : Northern Song early 12thC
Room 95 label text: PDF 76 Oval brush-washer with pairs of fish Craftsmen in Henan achieved a technical triumph in making this thinly potted brush-washer. They fully glazed the brush-washer before firing it on a support with three prongs which has left just three tiny unglazed sesame seed-shaped marks within a depressed circular area on their bases. Inside, two fish, a rebus for abundance, are incised in the clay beneath the glaze. Both the oval form of the brush-washer and its incised decoration make it incredibly rare, even within this exceptional group. Sherds of related wares have been excavated at Qingliangsi, the main Ru ware production site in Baofeng County, Henan. Stoneware with incised decoration and celadon glaze Ru ware 汝窯 Qingliangsi, Baofeng county, Henan province 河南省, 寳豐縣, 清凉寺 Northern Song dynasty, AD 1086–1125
PDF 76 天青釉雙魚紋橢圓洗 當時河南工匠在製作這件薄胎洗的技術上頗為成功。此洗通體施釉,採用裹足支燒,外底圓形的凹進處留有三個芝麻掙釘痕跡。此洗內底釉下刻兩條遊魚,象徵著富貴有餘。此洗呈橢圓形且刻有遊魚紋飾,使其極為罕見。河南寶豐清涼寺是汝窯的主要產地,曾發現有類似本器的汝窯碎片。 炻器,劃花,青釉 汝窯 河南省寶豐縣清涼寺 北宋,約1086-1125年
Bibliographic references
Pierson 1999 / Illustrated catalogue of Ru, Guan, Jun, Guangdong and Yixing wares in the Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art
(pp 44-45, no.76)
Yorke Hardy 1953 / Tung, Ju, Kuan, Chun, Kuang-tung & Glazed I-hsing Wares in the Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art
(p.20, no.76, pl.VIII)
Krahl & Harrison-Hall 2009 / Chinese Ceramics: Highlights of the Sir Percival David Collection
(p.26, no.4)
(p.94, base)
Scott 1989a / Imperial Taste - Chinese Ceramics from the Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art
(p.36, no.12)
Pierson 2002 / Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art: A Guide to the Collection
(p.36, no.10 (and base))
Scott 1989b / Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art: A Guide to the Collection
(p.47, no.30)
Hobson 1934 / A Catalogue of Chinese Pottery and Porcelain in the Collection of Sir Percival David Bt., F.S.A.
(p. 4, pl. III)
Pierson 2001 / Designs as Signs: Decoration and Chinese Ceramics
(p.20, no.12)
Medley 1975 / Volume 7: Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art
(Monochrome pl. 24)
Location
Not on display
Department
Asia
Registration number
PDF.76