Bidspirit auction | Small porcelain water container ''Water

Small porcelain water container ''Water Pot'', Song Ding Ware Kiln - Small porcelain water container ''Water Pot'', Song Ding Ware Kiln China, Song Dynasty or later. Porcelain with whitish glaze inside and out. H. 6.5 cm, D. approx. 9.5 cm. Significant signs of age, small chips on the foot ring. - Provenance: North German private collection. Song Dynasty (960-1279) ceramics are famous for their harmonious forms, restrained decoration, and exceptionally mature glazes. Water vessels were part of the basic equipment of a scholar's desk. These were usually small, rounded vessels used to hold a precise amount of water for ink preparation. Scholars used them when grinding ink, regulating water flow in calligraphy and painting, and carving seals. Among the important kilns of that time, Ding porcelain holds a prominent position. It is characterized by white, sometimes translucent porcelain, valued for its purity, clear forms, and simple elegance.