Celadon Round Washer, Guan Ware

The washer has a tapering body, flat interior bottom, and a stout foot ring. Grayish-blue glaze is applied all over its body except for the bottom rim. On the surface, lines of cracks resemble intersecting gold threads.   Guan ware of the Song dynasty is austere and serene. Relief and intaglio line patterns are the most common decoration. The tiny cracks on the surface demonstrate archaic flavor.   The round washer was used in the Qing court. The Qianlong Emperor (r. 1736-1795) wrote a poem and instructed his craftsman to engrave it on the foot of the washer. The poem shows how the emperor loved and cherished this ceramic.   Near the end of the firing process, due to the oxidation of iron in the glaze, the resulting washer bears a so-called “dark purple mouth and iron-red foot”, which is a special characteristic of Guan ware.