National Treasure BOTTLE, Celadon with iron brown spots
Yuan dynasty, 14th Century
Longquan ware
H. 27.4
Gift of SUMITOMO Group (The ATAKA Collection Accession No, 00556)
Photograph KAZUYOSHI MIYOSHI
This type of ware, scattering iron spots on the body, was repeatedly produced at the Longquan kilns during the Yuan dynasty. In Japan, known as tobi-seiji or (iron-) scattered celadon, has been favored by tea masters. This piece is one of the most outstanding in terms of both the color of the glaze and the appearance of the iron spots. Bottles in such a form is called yuhuchun, the pleasant contrast of the slender neck and the pear-shaped swollen body demonstrating an extraordinary balance of the whole work. The glaze on the foot ring has been trimmed off for about five millimeters from the very bottom, exposing the dark, reddish brown clay body. This piece had been handed down through the Konoike family. Similar examples are housed in the Victoria and Albert Museum in the UK and the Baur Collection in Switzerland.