Pear-shaped vase

Ceramic glazes of various colours and tones developed in China under the Tang and Song dynasties. This monochrome decoration was popular among the educated literati, who admired the refined simplicity of the vessels’ shapes, motifs and nuanced colour. Under the Qing dynasty, an array of technologically brilliant colourful glazes followed in the footsteps of the Song dynasty monochromes. Also the shapes of the vessels often followed famous ancient prototypes, such as in the case of this vase.