Examples of Objects on Display

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  Celadon Narcissus Basin with Light Bluish-Green Glaze

  Ru ware
  Northern Song dynasty, end of 11th – early 12th century
  Height 6.7cm, mouth diameter 23.0×16.4cm
  National Palace Museum, Taipei
  Photograph: MUDA Tomohiro

  This is the one and only “masterpiece of the masterpieces” among the Northern Song Ru wares that were passed down over generations. Investigations revealed that the so-called tianqing or “heavenly blue”color of the glaze was produced by using pulverized agate. It is the only piece that falls under the “no pattern” category, the feature which a Ming document evaluates as the most outstanding among Ru celadon. The Qing emperor Qianlong (1711-1799) particularly favored this piece among the Ru ware collection in the court, having his poem engraved on the base. There is a record mentioning that copies of this piece were produced at the Jingdezhen kiln during the Yongzheng and Qianlong eras, one of which that is now owned by the National Palace Museum, Taipei will be on display. Emperor Qianlong even ordered a gorgeous pedestal made in red sandalwood exclusively for this piece. It stores a manuscript Shuhua Hebi (A Harmonious Match of Painting and Calligraphy), a work by the four great calligraphers of the Song dynasty which was copied by the emperor himself. The National Palace Museum, Taipei is proud to show its supreme treasure to the public in Japan for the first time.

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  Celadon Narcissus Basin

  Ru ware
  Northern Song dynasty, end of 11th – early 12th century
  Height 5.7cm, mouth diameter 23.1×15.2cm
  National Palace Museum, Taipei
  Photograph: MUDA Tomohiro

  The mouth rim of this narcissus basin has a copper binding, which was made at the court during the Qing dynasty. The walls of this piece are relativey low. Similar to the celadon narcissus basin of The Museum of Oriental Ceramics, Osaka, the copper binding was probably done for the purpose of covering the edge of the mouth rim, which was trimmed to adjust the chipped edge. It also carries a poem by Emperor Qianlong on the base, the substance of which is basically the same with that of the “celadon narcissus basin with light bluish-green glaze”. This poem by Emperor Qianlong as well as court documents of the Qing dynasty indicate that such narcissus basins were also called “puppy bowls” or “cat bowls”. While there are examples of Qing paintings that depict narcissus basins with metal binding as a tray for creating bonkei (tray landscape, a miniature garden arranged on a tray), the actual use of these basins during the Northern Song dynasty is still wrapped in mystery. This work also accompanies a pedestal made in red sandalwood.

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  Celadon Narcissus Basin

  Ru ware
  Northern Song dynasty, end of 11th – early 12th century
  Height 6.8cm, mouth diameter 23.1×15.8cm
  National Palace Museum, Taipei
  Photograph: MUDA Tomohiro

  The discovery of the kiln site of Ru ware in 2000 at Qingliangsi Village in Baofeng County, Henan Province caught the attention of scholars and connoisseurs. Various types of ware, including not only the familiar types such as the narcissus basins but also those with forms not found in wares handed down over generations were excavated in large numbers. An oval-shaped setter to support the narcissus basin during firing was also unearthed. The shards excavated from the kiln site were from the wares which were thrown away due to unsuccessful firing. Among them, those with a beautiful “heavenly blue” glaze are very few, suggesting that it was extremely difficult to achieve the ideal glaze color. One can thus imagine the tremendously high value of the Ru ware examples with perfect condition. This basin can be said as a “perfect piece”, being slightly larger than average, similar to the “celadon narcissus basin with light bluish-green glaze”. The hues of Ru ware are actually not consistent and the glaze of this piece has a rather bluish green tone. It is possible to observe and enjoy the different, subtle hues of the celadon glazes under the LED illumination which is most similar to natural light.