SMALL JAR, Iridescent green-glazed, Han Dynasty (206 BCE–220 CE)

This is a green-glazed jar from the Han Dynasty (206 BCE–220 CE). During this period, the first true celadon wares emerged in the history of Chinese ceramics, alongside the production of ash-glazed pottery, painted gray pottery, black pottery, and lead-glazed ceramics. Transitioning from the bronze culture that flourished from the Shang to the Zhou and into the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, the Han Dynasty witnessed a technical innovation in the firing of celadon, leading to the creation of diverse forms and techniques in ceramics.

This piece features a gently curving shoulder and a low mouth, embodying a compact form that is well-suited for a tea room. The green glaze exhibits a beautiful silvering effect, presenting a captivating visual appeal. It is said that this natural silvering process takes several centuries to develop.