Glazed pottery Yandi ‘Embarkation’, Song dynasty

This ceramic is modelled and covered with a thick celadon glaze of a greenish-blue hue. It shows the image of a traditional Chinese fishing boat, with an elongated hull, a canopy at the bow and an arch-shaped construction in the centre through which small figures climb. The work, executed with great attention to detail, shows patina from ageing.  

Yandi, an object commonly used by scholars and artists during the Song dynasty, contained the water with which, together with ground ink, they made the final pigment for paintings and writings. Longquan Kiln, Song dynasty (960-1279) or later.

Size: 8.7 x 6.6 x 16.3 cm.

References: 

- Zhejiang Museum, Class A, Boat-shaped Longquan Kiln celadon yandi, Yuan dynasty (1271-1368).