Vase with Floral Decoration

960-1279 C.E.

The energetic floral sprigs on this vase epitomize the inventive painting of the popular non-imperial ceramics produced at the Cizhou kilns from the tenth to the fourteenth century. Cizhou wares were more commonly known for their carved or painted creamy-white and brown slip decoration and were only rarely covered with a green lead glaze. Looking carefully at this vase, one can see the indentations made by the potter’s fingers on the base, from when he dipped it in the glaze. Cizhou wares experienced a decline in the Yuan dynasty (1279–1368) with changes in taste propelled by the growing dominance of Jingdezhen porcelains.