incised decoration China, Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127) This rare example of Yaozhou celadon ware is incised with a lotus blossom at the head-piece which has a lobed botanical shape with a pointed top. The top is connected to an integrated pedestal shaped base. The Yaozhou Kiln complex, at Huangbaozhen, Shaanxi, began production during the Tang dynasty, when it was notable for Sancai earthenware. Although considerably further from Kaifeng, which became the capital of the Song in 960, Yaozhou benefited from the move, as the previous main high-quality celadon Yue ware, from further south, declined. At the end of the Northern Song in 1127, the Imperial court fled south, and the capital of the Southern Song was set up at Hangzhou. The nearby Longquan celadon kilns became the main producer of celadon and Yaozhou and the other Northern Celadons declined accordingly, in both quantity and quality, although celadons continued to be produced at Yaozhou until the Yuan dynasty. Shape: Lobed shape with pointed top Weight: 1,320.4 gramsDimensions: 20 x 20 cm, 11 cm height Condition: excellent condition with minor traces of wear and age Provenance: from an American private estate Auction result comparison: for a related incised ‘Lotus’ Yaozhou bowl see Christie’s, The Pavilion Sale - Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, Hong Kong, 4 October 2018, Lot 21. 北宋耀州窯青釉蓮花紋枕青釉炻器印花 中國,北宋 (960-1127) 造型:花瓣開口形 重量: 1,320.4 克尺寸: 20 x 20 厘米, 高11 厘米 品相:保存極好,輕微年代痕跡與磨損 來源:美國私人遺產