Rich Description
Kiln Background: The Rare Treasures of Ding Ware Beyond White
The Ding kilns, located in modern-day Quyang, Hebei province, are celebrated as one of the "Five Great Wares" of the Song Dynasty. Their products are most famous for their fine, white porcelain bodies and lustrous, ivory-toned glazes, which were often decorated with masterfully carved, incised, or molded designs. However, in addition to their mainstream white wares, the Ding kilns also produced a small quantity of colored-glaze porcelains, among which the black-glazed (Black Ding) and brown-glazed ('Purple' Ding) are the most precious. 'Purple' Ding (Ziding), with its deep and elegant color and extreme rarity, has always been regarded as a treasure of the highest order by connoisseurs and collectors.
Form and Body: An Elegant Shape of Utmost Purity
Measuring approximately 6 x 6 x 9.2 cm, this small and exquisite vase exhibits the classic plate-mouthed, long-necked form of the Song-Jin period, conveying an air of sublime grace.
Form: The vase features a wide, flat, plate-shaped mouth, a slender neck, and rounded shoulders that transition smoothly to a full, globular body. The overall silhouette is gentle and harmonious, possessing both a sense of dignity and a light, elegant spirit (IMG_6820.jpg, IMG_6824.jpg).
The Body: The most definitive feature for its attribution lies at its base (IMG_6823.jpg). The neatly trimmed, unglazed foot ring reveals a porcelain body that is as white as snow, with a fine, powdery texture. This pure white body is the undisputed hallmark of true Ding ware and is the fundamental characteristic that distinguishes it from other kilns that produced brown-glazed wares.
Flowing Clouds of Purple and Gold: An Analysis of a Jin Dynasty 'Purple' Ding Ware Vase with Kiln Transmutation Glaze
Plate-mouthed Long-necked Vase
Era
Jin Dynasty
Kiln
Ding kilns
Glaze
Purple Ding glaze
Purple Ding glaze
SIZE
9.2
x
6
x
6
CM
This Jin Dynasty 'Purple' Ding ware plate-mouthed, long-necked vase is an exceptionally rare and artistically expressive ceramic masterpiece. It unites the world-renowned pure white body of Ding ware with a spectacular and unpredictable kiln-transmuted glaze, subverting the common perception of Ding ware as being solely defined by elegant white porcelain. This piece not only represents the superb level of glaze innovation achieved at the Ding kilns during the Jin Dynasty (1115-1234 CE) but is also a unique work of abstract art, co-authored by fire and earth.
Glaze Analysis: An Abstract Painting Forged in Fire
The glaze of this vase is the heart of its artistic value. It far surpasses the scope of a simple 'Purple' Ding, presenting itself as a spectacular work of kiln transmutation (Yao Bian).
The Base Glaze: The primary tone of the vessel is a soy-sauce brown or reddish-brown, consistent with the traditional 'Purple' Ding classification. This is a high-iron-oxide lime glaze. Under a microscope, its surface reveals fine crystals that give the glaze a warm, reserved, satin-like sheen (IMG_6825.jpg, IMG_6827.jpg).
The Kiln Transmutation Effect: Most breathtaking are the large areas of cloud-like, variegated patterns that flow over the brown base glaze. These patterns are incredibly rich in color. While appearing as deep, bluish-black streaks to the naked eye (IMG_6822.jpg), close-up and microscopic photos (F64A9932_1.jpg, F64A0023_2.jpg) reveal an astonishing interplay of metallic ochre, deep blue-black, and glossy orange, all swirling and merging into a spectacle reminiscent of cosmic nebulae or flowing lava. This effect was likely achieved through complex application techniques, such as layering or splashing different glazes, which then intermingled during firing. Its accidental and unrepeatable nature is the very charm of kiln transmutation art.
A Microscopic Glimpse into a Polychrome World
High-magnification observation further reveals the complex composition of the glaze:
Crystalline Texture: The body of the brown glaze is composed of fine iron-oxide crystals, which create its glittering, almost metallic texture.
Intermingling of Colors: In the kiln-transmuted areas, the clear boundaries and transitional zones between the different colored glazes can be seen (IMG_6831.jpg). The dark streaks are not merely a colorant but a presentation of a different glaze phase.
Anomalous Color Spots: Scattered across the surface are tiny blue-green specks (IMG_6826.jpg, IMG_6828.jpg). These may be the result of other trace elements in the glaze reacting to the specific kiln atmosphere, adding yet another layer of subtle variation to the overall palette.
Conclusion
This Jin Dynasty 'Purple' Ding ware vase, with its kiln transmutation glaze, is a rare treasure that wears a magnificent, ever-changing cloak of color over its pure Ding ware body. It is not only an exceptional example of the advanced colored-glaze production at the Jin-era Ding kilns but is also a work of art imbued with the spirit of abstract expressionism. The preciousness of this vase lies in its perfect synthesis of the "orthodoxy" of Ding ware (its pure body) and the "unorthodoxy" of kiln transmutation (its fantastic glaze). It is an unparalleled artifact for studying the technical breadth and artistic heights of the Ding kilns and stands as a ceramic masterpiece that one may encounter only by a stroke of rare fortune.