A rare carved green-glazed 'lotus' bottle vase, Northern Qi dynasty

Sotheby's New York, 23rd September 2004, lot 202.

The present vase is characteristic of wares produced during the sixth dynasty when emphasis was placed on the balance of form and restrained elegance. The rounded, lobed body provides a sense of weight and stability, while the tall, tapering neck rises in a controlled and deliberate manner, recalling earlier metal prototypes. The softly applied green glaze settles evenly across the surface, pooling gently in the recesses and subtly accentuating the molded contours. Subtle variations in tone add depth to the surface, giving the vase a calm, understated presence.

No other similar vase of this form seems to have been published, however the lotus petal decoration found around the body is characteristic of wares during this time, and can be found on vessels of other forms. For jars similarly decorated with lotus lappets, see one in the Nanjing Museum, Nanjing, illustrated in Zhongguo taoci quanji [The Complete Works of Chinese Ceramics], vol. 4: Sanguo, Liangjin, Nanbeichao [Three Kingdoms, Jin dynasty and Northern and Southern Dynasties], Shanghai, 2000, fig. 234; one excavated in 1989 from a tomb located in Tangxiazhen in Rui'an city, Zhejiang province, illustrated in ibid., fig. 226; and another, excavated in 1985, unearthed in Xinchuncun within Shaoxin, Zhejiang province, illustrated in ibid., fig. 231. For an example of a similarly decorated jar sold at auction, see one sold at Christie‘s London, 9th December 1985, lot 35.