Green Glazed Vase

China

A double-gourd vase defined by proportion, continuity of form, and a unified glazed surface.

Description

The vase is structured as a double-gourd form, the lower globe rising into a compressed waist before expanding into the upper body and narrowing into a short neck. The transition between volumes is controlled and continuous, maintaining clear proportional balance between lower mass and upper register.

A pierced lattice band encircles the central field, opening the surface while preserving structural integrity. Within this zone, relief panels depict birds among flowering branches, articulated in a shallow and even register. The relief remains contained, integrated within the broader geometry rather than projecting beyond it.

The glaze defines the object. A deep, saturated green covers both relief and ground in a continuous, reflective surface, settling evenly across carved and openwork areas without interruption. Subtle tonal variation occurs where the glaze gathers, reinforcing depth while maintaining coherence.

Context

Within Chinese ceramic practice, monochrome glazes establish presence through depth, surface, and consistency. Structural variation—piercing and relief—is introduced within a controlled framework, ensuring that surface complexity does not disrupt overall balance.

Here, the relationship between form and glaze remains exact. The colour unifies the composition, while the pierced and relief elements operate within a disciplined structural system.

Provenance

From the Felice Maffei Collection, Italy

Acquired in China, 1992

Available on private enquiry.