Celadon Vase with Incised Decoration, Yaozhou Ware

This vase with a small, flared and flat mouth, short and straight neck, wide shoulders, gradually contracting body and foot ring is decorated with three bow-string bands on the shoulders. The entwining peony flowers on the body and the two rows of lotus petals on the lower part of the body are neatly incised in deep and shallow cuts. The entwining branches and the profusion of full-blown flowers with inverted and non-inverted petals are perfectly arranged. The whole vase is evenly covered with a greenish glaze, which has a smooth and glass-like texture. Most of incised celadon wares from the Yaozhou kiln are plates and bowls. There are few vases. The small mouth and short neck of this vase emphasize the graceful full body. As the glaze is deeper in colour in the cuts and lighter in colour in the uncut parts, the designs are clearly defined and have a three-dimensional effect. The vase is a masterpiece of Yaozhou ware.