Celadon water container, Yue ware

The opening of this celadon water container slopes outwards with a flat folded rim, deep arched body, flat bottom, and a slightly concave base. The piece is covered with greenish-grey glaze and has an irregular spur mark that goes around the edge of the base through which the grey color of the biscuit can be seen. Most pieces like this have been unearthed from the graves of members of the royal household of the Wuyue Kingdom, which often hold at least one celadon water container as a grave good. From the middle to the late Tang dynasty, the color of glaze applied to celadon water containers was deeply influenced by the preference of literati and aesthetes. The shape and firing technique used to produce this piece is similar to that of Yue celadon water containers unearthed from the Famen Temple underground hoard, which removes any doubt that this is a Yue celadon piece. Inside the vessel, an expert of Committee for the Disposition of the Qing Imperial Possessions has written in black characters, Ru ware water container with outward extending opening. The fact that this vessel was once designated a Ru ware piece reflects changes in the way Ru and Yue ceramics were viewed over the last century. During the late Tang dynasty, poets likened the color of Yue celadon glaze to a thousand emerald peaks stretching endlessly into the distance.