{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O112507"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O112507/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006BB6224/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006BB6224/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006BB6224","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006BB6223","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006BB6222","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AD0425","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2017JW1221","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O112507/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O112507","accessionNumber":"C.31-1935","objectType":"Vase","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"This bottle is an example of Cizhou ware, a type of ceramic made in the northern part of China during the Song dynasty (960-1279). The term Cizhou encapsulates a range of wares made in several regions of northern China, often consisting of a course stoneware body  covered with a white slip (a thin layer of diluted firing clay), and then decorated with a contrasting colour. Vessels of this shape have traditionally been referred to as  meiping, literally 'prunus vases'. However, some of these 'prunus vases' are inscribed with the Chinese words 'fine wine'. \r\n\r\nCizhou wares were utilitarian at their time of production and were made in relatively large numbers. This bottle is made in a shape known as <i>meiping</i> (prunus vase), but it was most likely used to store alcohol. Although they were not given high praise at the time of production, the bold designs and simple shapes of Cizhou wares were later treasured by Japanese and Western connoisseurs alike. The studio pottery movement in Britain found affinity with ceramics like this vase, which Bernard Leach praised in his seminal publication, <i>A Potter’s Book</i>, in 1940.","physicalDescription":"This slender jar is an example of Cizhou ware, a term embracing a range of high-fired stoneware made in several regions of northern China. The distinguishing feature is the white or cream-coloured slip (a thin layer of diluted firing clay), covering the body, on which a variety of decoration is made. Cizhou potters were highly creative. The decorative techniques were employed. Cizhou potters were highly creative, using carving, incising, combing, inlaying, stamping, underglaze painting and overglaze enamelling to decorate their wares. Very often two or more these techniques are combined to decorate single object. Here, the design of camellia flowers on a scrolling leafy branch was incised, but variety was achieved by setting the flowers against a ring-punched background.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"stoneware","id":"x30197"}],"techniques":[{"text":"glazed","id":"AAT53914"},{"text":"incised","id":"AAT53847"},{"text":"punched","id":"AAT235631"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Stoneware with cream-coloured slip, incised and punched","categories":[{"text":"Ceramics","id":"THES48982"},{"text":"Containers","id":"THES48972"},{"text":"Stoneware","id":"THES48890"}],"styles":[{"text":"Northern Song","id":"AAT18432"},{"text":"Cizhou","id":"x44556"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"EAS","id":"THES48596"},"images":["2006BB6224","2006BB6223","2006BB6222","2006AD0425","2017JW1221"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"145 (VA)","id":"THES49865"},"free":"","case":"46","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Vase","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"China","id":"x29398"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1025-1050","earliest":"1025-01-01","latest":"1050-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Purchased with Art Fund support, the Vallentin Bequest, Sir Percival David and the Universities China Committee","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"38.0","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Diameter","value":"16.0","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Vase, incised and punched stoneware on cream-coloured slip, Cizhou ware, China, Northern Song dynasty, 1025-1050","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"Kerr, Rose. Song Dynasty Ceramics. London: V&A Publications, 2004.","id":"AUTH404555"},"details":"p. 62, no. 59","free":""},{"reference":{"text":"Liefkes, Reino and Hilary Young (eds.) <i>Masterpieces of World Ceramics in the Victoria and Albert Museum</i>. London: V&A Publishing, 2008","id":"AUTH354348"},"details":"pp. 34-35","free":""},{"reference":{"text":"<i>Exhibition of early Chinese pottery and porcelain</i>, London : Printed for the Burlington Fine Arts Club, 1910","id":"AUTH356075"},"details":"D56","free":""},{"reference":{"text":"<i>Catalogue of the International Exhibition of Chinese Art, 1935-6</i>, London : Royal Academy of Arts, 1935","id":"AUTH356076"},"details":"1267","free":""}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"peony","id":"x30070"},{"text":"山茶","id":"CIT280629"},{"text":"卷草","id":"CIT281618"},{"text":"植物 (紋飾)","id":"CIT288655"},{"text":"花","id":"CIT280557"},{"text":"葉","id":"CIT287094"},{"text":"弦紋","id":"CIT281949"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"Vase (meiping) with peony design\r\nNorthern Song dynasty \r\n1025-1050\r\nCizhou kilns, North China\r\n\r\nStoneware with incised and punched decoration  \r\nMuseum no.C.31-1935\r\nFrom the Eumorfopoulos collection, purchased with the assistance of The Art Fund, the Vallentin Bequest, Sir Percival David and the Universities China Committee","date":{"text":"2007","earliest":"2007-01-01","latest":"2007-12-31"}},{"text":"Jar with incised designs\r\nChina, Cizhou kilns\r\nNorthern Song dynasty,\r\n1025–50\r\n\r\nCizhou stonewares were produced across northern China over a long period. Covered with white or cream slip, they had decoration of many different types. Here the design was incised into the slip. It includes a scroll with camellia flowers against a ‘ring-matted’ background. The shape is called a meiping, or ‘prunus vase’, in Chinese. Yet its sturdy body and thick base suggest it was a container for alcohol.\r\n\r\nGlazed stoneware with incised slip decoration\r\n\r\nMuseum no. C.31-1935\r\nPurchased with the assistance of The Art Fund, the Vallentin Bequest,\r\nSir Percival David and the Universities China Committee","date":{"text":"September 2009","earliest":"2009-09-01","latest":"2009-09-30"}}],"partNumbers":["C.31-1935"],"accessionNumberNum":"31","accessionNumberPrefix":"C","accessionYear":1935,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2019LP3297","2019LT5530","2019LU4756"],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-08","recordCreationDate":"2005-06-01","availableToBook":false}}