CHINE, FOURS DE LONGQUAN XIIIe SIÈCLE

= Mallet-shaped vase In celadon stoneware, the cylindrical body is topped by a high neck with a flared lip, and flanked by two molded carp-dragon handles. The glaze has a beautiful water-green hue with a network of cracks. H. 24.2 cm NOTE: The Longquan kilns in Zhejiang's Lishui prefecture produced celadon from the mid-10th to the 16th century. But it was under the Southern Song dynasty (1127 - 1279) that production reached its peak. The kilns were renowned for the quality of their celadon glaze and the variety of its shades, which were often compared to the beauty of jade. From this period onwards, many pieces were collected, including mallet vases, particularly sought-after in Japan, where they were known as "kinuta" (literally "mallet"). It's worth noting that, for this type of vase, there are two types of handles: those depicting phoenixes and the rarer ones depicting carp-dragons, as on the present vase. A very similar vase, also with carp-dragon handles, is in the collections of the Metropolitan Museum, New York, no. 50.145.301.