A VERY LARGE 'CIZHOU' SGRAFFIATO VASE WITH HANDLES, JIN DYNASTY, 1115–1234

Black-glazed stoneware with extensive patina

China, 1115–1234

The ovoid body swelling broadly at the shoulder and set with two tab handles before the short straight neck and wide everted mouth rim, applied overall with a lustrous black-glaze transmuting to russet-colored striations along the bow strings, boldly cut through with a broad band of four meandering blossoms borne on leafy stems enclosed within a two incised double line borders, the glaze falling short as a wavy line significantly above the base, revealing the buff-colored stoneware body, with a few tears of glaze trickling down to the foot rim.

Shape: Vase with handles
Weight: 10,9 kilograms
Dimensions: Height 50,5 cm
Condition: Extensive wear and traces of use, as is typical for this type of early Jin cizhou wares, some minor flaws to lip and one handle, some glaze flakes, one manufacturing flaw to foot rim, overyall outstanding condition for an original ceramic of this age, no restoration whatsoever
Provenance: Dutch private collection

Auction result comparison: FINE CHINESE CERAMICS & WORKS OF ART, 13 MAY 2009, LONDON, lot 73. (for a similar vase with handles, from the same period, but much smaller)

金朝大型”磁州窯”剔花雙耳壺
黑釉剔花，包漿良好
中國，金朝，1115-1234
壺上身帶小雙耳，壺口略為外翻，整體塗有黑釉，精細的四朵剔花環繞整壺。下半露出未上釉的陶壺身，亦可見黑釉自然的流下至足部。
形狀：雙耳壺
重量：10.9公斤
尺寸：高50.5厘米
此件磁州窯年代較久，整體品相相對良好。有大面積的磨損即使用痕跡，壺唇及一耳有小裂痕，一些黑釉剝落。沒有修補。
荷蘭私人收藏
類似拍品：一件年代及花紋相似，但較小的雙耳壺，見蘇富比《中國瓷器及藝術品》，倫敦，2009年5月13日，拍品編號73。