A RARE 'XING' INSCRIBED VASE TANG DYNASTY

the body of well-potted ovoid form rising from a short spreading foot to a tall elegant waisted neck and flaring rim, covered overall with white glaze, the base unglazed and incised ying

This rare bottle vase is in very good overall condition with the exception of some discolouration to the glaze, possibly contemporary to firing, a 1cm., wide firing glaze line just below the shoulder, an iron-spot to the rim, and light scratches around the body.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

'Xing' vases are extremely rare and the refined elegance of the present piece reflects the technical expertise that the potters were able to achieve in creating the first true porcelains made in China. The 'Xing' kilns were situated on the borders of Lincheung and Neiqiu counties in Hebei province, and were renowned for their production of white wares during the Tang dynasty (618-907). Contemporary writers praised the ware, describing it as 'white as silver and snow', as its sparkling, glossy quality evoked the attributes of silver. This association was encouraged by the potters by modelling many of their shapes on contemporary silverware.

Although vases with wider tall flared necks were produced in white-glazed stoneware, the long slender neck that extends from the ovoid body is most unusual. No other 'Xing' vase of this form appears to be published and is likely to have derived from a metal ware of the period. Compare the elongated neck and ovoid body of a silver ewer, discovered in a Tang tomb in Ju Ud Meng in inner Mongolia and included in the exhibition Chugoku Uchimoko hoppa kiba minzoku bunbutsu ten, Tokyo, 1983, cat. no. 69, and a 'Xing' derivative, illustrated in Wenwu, 1990, no. 5, pl. 3, figs. 4 and 5, and p. 24, fig. 12:6.  

The present piece is also remarkable for being inscribed with the character ying ('surplus') on the base. This character is known from a small number of 'Xing' bowl, boxes, ewers and jars, as well as from the Neiqiu kiln site and from the state of the Daminggong, the Tang palace at Chang'an (Xi'an). The inscription has been explained by Wang Changqi as an abbreviation of the name of a designated imperial treasury Baibao Dayingku ('Grand Surplus Depository of a Hundred Treasures'). A bowl inscribed with the character ying was sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 1^st May 1995, lot 633; a box with this inscription from the Shanghai Museum was included in the exhibition Chugoku rekidai toji ten, Seibu Art Museum, Tokyo, 1984, cat. no. 32; and a dish is published in Regina Krahl, Chinese Ceramics from the Meiyintang Collection, vol. three (II), London, 2006, cat. no. 1420.