Shiwan ware vase in form of cong

1. Purchased in China. For price, see L. 1496, original Pottery List.

2. Original attribution: Chinese. Sung. See further, S.I. 986, Appendix I and Envelope File (See par. 5).

3. (C.L.F., undated) Sung.

4. (J.E.Lodge, 1922) Ming.

5. (H.E. Buckman, 1965) The Envelope file contained no further information, and has now been destroyed.

6. (H.C. Lovell, 1978) Attribution changed from "Ming" to "Ch'ing; Kuangtung ware."

7. (From an exhibition label: Studies in Connoisseurship: 1923-1983--September, 1983) Sung dynasty scholars and antiquarians laid the basis for the systematic examination of ancient traditions that still continues today. Because of Sung interest in the past, the shapes of many contemporary ceramics were based on antique forms. In the case of this vase, the prototype was a jade "tsung" [Chn], traditionally believed to be symbolic of earth. When Charles Lang Freer acquired the vase in China in 1907, it was believed to date from the Sung dynasty.

Recent research on wares made in kilns in Kwangtung Province has clarified the dating of many pieces like the Freer vase. The stoneware body and thick, crackled glaze are features that can be related to Kwangtung wares made during the Ch'ing dynasty.

8. (Han Yuxi, Guangzhou, and Frederikke Scollard, Shiwan specialists; 7 July 1994) Related in place, date and technique to F1896.35. Guangdong, Shiwan, early Qing.

9. (Louise Cort, 25 Feb 2009) Changed Title from Flower-vase: square, "earth-form", on bold basal ring to Vase in form of cong. Changed medium from Glazed clay to Stoneware with Jun-style glaze.

10. (Louise Cort, 4 May 2009) Lu Minghua, Chief, Ceramics Department, Shanghai Museum, said that this is Shiwan ware from Guangdong province and dates to the late Ming dynasty, 16th-17th century. Such vessels are rare in Chinese collections.

Changed Guangdong ware to Shiwan ware. To Origin added Shiwan kilns. Changed period from Qing dynasty to Ming dynasty. Changed Date from mid 17th-19th century to 16th-mid 17th century. Changed medium from Stoneware with Jun-style glaze to Stoneware with opaque ivory glaze.

11. (Louise Cort, 21 September 2010) According to Zhang Zhongchun, Curator, Xiamen Museum, this could be a product of the Fengxi kilns, Chaozhou city, Guangdong province 廣東省潮州市楓溪窯. The date is early Qing. The glaze imitates the crackle of Guanyao. See also F1894.3 and F1896.35.

12. (Louise Cort, 6 June 2014) An article by Chen Yuxiu on "the mystery of white-glazed pottery" in the 2014.1 issue of Shiwan Tao/Shiwan Ceramics, pp. 35-48, explores the opinions about attributing white-glazed pottery of this type to the Shiwan kilns or the Yixing kilns, based on the thirty-some pieces of this type of ware in the National Palace Museum, Taiwan.

Two cong-shaped vases in the National Palace Museum collection are published as figs. 25 and 26, p. 47, and fig. 14, p. 42. They are dated Ming-Qing.