A Large Chinese Song / Yuan Dynasty Glazed Buddhist Jar with Sanskrit Inscription. Coated in green glaze that has been applied on top of a pale slip to emphasize its colour. In places the glaze has acquired a silvery iridescence. Many various moulded Buddhist motifs have been applied to the surfaces of both the cover and jar. Interestingly there are minor loses to a couple of the appliqués on the cover, yet they are glazed, although the area of loss has no slip under the glaze. This shows what colour this glaze would have been had it not been for the slip, and also shows that the appliqués were damaged during manufacture prior to the slip being applied. Around the unglazed underside of the cover are traces of an inscription in Sanskrit-type characters written in red pigment most likely relating to Buddhist prayers. Height of 37 cm (14.5 inches), diameter 27 cm (10.5 inches). From Yunnan province, 13th / 14th Century.
Provenance: from the collection of the late Brian Page (1938-2018), the well-known Oriental art and antiques dealer from Brighton.