Antique Chinese Green Celadon Jar, Song Dynasty.

The Antique hand-crafted earthenware Chinese celadon jug with a beautiful green glaze. The jug has a rounded shape and four decorative loop handles symmetrically placed at the rim. The glaze is cracked, which is a common characteristic of celadon and gives it a textured, antique look. The surface of the jug is decorated with carved designs, including floating ducks, lotus flowers, and leaf patterns above it. The glaze has a soft glossy lustre and the overall tone of the jug is a rich green, characteristic of traditional celadon ware. The artistic motifs and style suggest that this object may have a historical connection, with Chinese celadon from the Song dynasty. Ducks are associated with prosperity, abundance, and good luck in Chinese culture and lotus is the symbol of honesty, goodness, beauty and purity in the eyes of the Chinese people. At that time, a similar bowl shape could be seen on Song Dynasty kilns scattered throughout the country. Ceramic wares were used for people's daily needs. The green-glazed wares in China are known as "qingci". They were usually first made in Zhejiang during the Eastern Han dynasty, but date back to the Shang dynasty. Over centuries, a natural brown discoloration has appeared on the exterior, reflecting its historical authenticity and prolonged chemical reaction during long time. This is considered a part of the aesthetic element of celadon.
Song Dynasty celadon is known for its elegant, smooth, and translucent glaze that often resembled jade, a material highly valued in Chinese culture. The glazes ranged from pale green to deep olive green, sometimes with blueish tones. It was characterized by their simple yet elegant shapes. The emphasis was on balance, proportion, and subtle beauty, reflecting the minimalist aesthetics of the time. Song celadon wares included bowls, plates, vases, jars, and ritual vessels. Several major kilns produced celadon during the Song period; we're assuming that the jug was made in Yue Kiln. Yue ware was produced in Zhejiang province and was already known during the Tang Dynasty. Yue celadons had a bright olive-green glaze and finely incised decorations. Song Dynasty celadon ceramics greatly influenced later periods in Chinese history and were highly valued across East Asia, inspiring pottery traditions in Korea and Japan. The aesthetic principles of celadon—its simplicity, elegance, and restrained beauty—continue to be admired and emulated today.
Dimensions: height 14cm, diameter of the tallest part 15cm, weight 696 grams.
Condition: looks very good, but there is an enamel crack near one of the handles and there are cracks to the body of the pot - one small one that runs along the top rim near one of the handles and ends where the handle starts. The other crack is more extended - it is on the side where the flower image is and goes about 5cm to the top of the flower. The cracks are very thin and almost invisible against the green background, but they are there. Otherwise the condition of the pot is excellent for its age.
Please, study the accompanying photographs carefully as they form an integral part of this description. The item will be shipped with full tracking and insurance. It is important to note that shipping costs include labour, packaging and postage