A Cizhou black-painted 'floral' jar, Northern Song dynasty 北宋 磁州白地黑彩花葉紋缽

Freely painted with an attractive design of feather-like leaf, this jar is characteristic of wares produced at the Cizhou type kilns in Ci county, Hebei province. A layer of white slip was applied over the body, which was then painted with dark brown pigments in rapid brushstrokes before being enhanced by a coat of clear glaze. Such vividly contrasting brown-and-white design is reminiscent of calligraphy and ink paintings and thus vessels such as the present lot would have been highly sought after by the literati during the Song dynasty.

Jars of this type with similar design are found in prominent collections, including one in the collections of British Museum, London (inventory no. 1936,1012.162), one in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (inventory no. 1991.253.20), and another one from the collection of Sir Alan and Lady Barlow, illustrated in Jan Wirgin, Sung Ceramic Designs, London, 1979, pl. 45c.

與本拍品類型及紋飾相似之磁州花葉紋缽於知名收藏之中亦可見，大英博物館（藏品編號1936,1012.162）及大都會美術館（藏品編號1991.253.20）各藏有一例。詹姆斯巴羅爵士伉儷舊藏中亦有一件，錄於 Jan Wirgin，《Sung Ceramic Designs》，倫敦，1979，圖版45c。