Published & Exhibited: The Oriental Ceramics Society, The World in Monochromes. An Exhibition of Single-Coloured Ceramics from Members of The Oriental Ceramics Society, London, 16 April-20 June 2009, cat. no. 94.

China, 960-1127. The thick-walled ovoid body of the grain store supported on a slightly splayed foot, rising to a tiered roof surmounted by a tall bud-form finial. An opening cut into the center is enclosed by an applied window, the body and roof with further applied decoration. The exterior is covered with a pale brownish glaze stopping irregularly above the foot exposing the buff ware partly burnt to orange.

Provenance: From the estate of Phillip Allen (1938-2022), who was a widely respected collector and expert of Chinese ceramics and works of art as well as a director of the Oriental Ceramic Society for many years. He co-authored and edited several exhibition catalogues for the OCS and was best known as the cataloguer of the Sir Victor Sassoon collection of Chinese ivories in the British Museum.
Condition: Very good condition with minor wear and manufacturing irregularities like glaze recesses. Few small losses, minor pits, tiny dark spots, scratches, and scattered encrustations. The neck and shoulder with minor touchups.

Weight: 1,875.7 g
Dimensions: Height 33.5 cm

In ancient China, the idea of a full granary carried with it the associations of prosperity and security. It is not surprising therefore to find that, from early times, ceramic models of granaries were made to accompany the deceased into the afterworld. In the Han dynasty, for example, unglazed and lead-glazed earthenware granaries were often placed in tombs. These Han dynasty models were, on the whole, relatively simple constructions, compared to later examples from the Song and Yuan dynasties.

Literature comparison:
Compare a closely related Qingbai tomb urn, 30.5 cm high, dated to 11th-12th century, in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession number 16.45.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Christie's New York, 20 March 2015, lot 839
Price: USD 37,500 or approx. EUR 45,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A rare Qingbai-type model of a granary and cover, Southern Song-Yuan dynasty, 12th-13th century
Expert remark: Compare the related, if somewhat more elaborate form, with similar bud-shaped finial and applied decoration. Note the slightly later dating and the size (24.8 cm).