Qingbai Ware Model of a Granary

Heavily potted as a vessel and cover, the vessel well modeled as a circular granary formed by an outer wall of evenly spaced columns or posts raised on square blocks and joined to the inner wall by square tenons, all raised on a plinth bisected on one side by stairs rising to a doorway fitted with a vertically sliding door inscribed with horizontal panels numbered one to six below a shaped plaque inscribed with the characters, “wu deng cang” [Jan Stuart, Oct. 21, 2002, inserts that this reading is probably incorrect. The legend appears to read “wu su cang”: granary for the five grains–i.e. a full harvest], the separate cover modeled as a tiled roof surmounted by a large bud finial, covered with a glaze of grayish-blue tone, the stairs, doorway, door and plaque left in the biscuit.

Historical period(s)
Southern Song dynasty, 13th century
Medium
Porcelain with transparent pale-blue (qingbai) glaze
Style
Qingbai ware
Dimensions
H x W (overall): 27.9 x 18.3 cm (11 x 7 3/16 in)
Geography
China, Jiangxi province, Jingdezhen
Credit Line
Purchase — funds provided by Lois S. Raphling and The Hassan Family Foundation in memory of Dr. David L. Raphling
Collection
Freer Gallery of Art Collection
Accession Number
F2001.13a-c
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Ceramic, Model
Type

Model

Keywords
China, porcelain, Qingbai ware, Southern Song dynasty (1127 - 1279), tomb
Provenance

Christie's New York auction purchase, Lot # 102, sale date 9/21/01. Purchased through the bidding of Jim Lally of J. J. Lally, New York.

Myron and Pauline Falk, New York

C. T. Loo, New York, sold December 1949

Previous Owner(s) and Custodian(s)

Myron S. Falk, Jr. 1906-1992

Description

Heavily potted as a vessel and cover, the vessel well modeled as a circular granary formed by an outer wall of evenly spaced columns or posts raised on square blocks and joined to the inner wall by square tenons, all raised on a plinth bisected on one side by stairs rising to a doorway fitted with a vertically sliding door inscribed with horizontal panels numbered one to six below a shaped plaque inscribed with the characters, "wu deng cang" [Jan Stuart, Oct. 21, 2002, inserts that this reading is probably incorrect. The legend appears to read "wu su cang": granary for the five grains--i.e. a full harvest], the separate cover modeled as a tiled roof surmounted by a large bud finial, covered with a glaze of grayish-blue tone, the stairs, doorway, door and plaque left in the biscuit.

Inscription(s)

1. (From Christies Auction Catalog, sale date 9/21/01, lot 102) Inscription incised over the doorway reads: wu deng cang, "Granary of Five Harvests".
2. Jan Stuart, Oct. 21, 2002 does not accept the above reading of the second character. That character is more likely "su" meaning "grain."

Published References
  • Zhongguo Taoci Quanji, 16, Song Yuan Qingbaici. Shanghai. cat. 27.
  • Christie's New York Auction Purchase. New York, September 20, 2001. lot 102.
  • The Porcelains of Jingdezhen. Exh. cat. London. p. 19, pl. 10.
  • et al. The Burrell Collection., rev. reprint. London and Glasgow. p. 44, pl. 4.
  • Dated Qingbai Wares of the Song and Yuan Dynasties. Hong Kong. cat. 89, p. 79.
  • Bo Gyllensvard. Chinese Ceramics in the Carl Kempe Collection. Stockholm. cat. 514, p. 160.
Collection Area(s)
Chinese Art
Web Resources
Google Cultural Institute
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