A CHINESE CIZHOU-TYPE VASE

MING DYNASTY

The ovoid body painted in brown with hexagonal panels, depicting scenes from the tale of Deng Bodao and the abandonment of his son, all between bands of spirals and chevrons and reserved on a cream ground, 28.5cm.

This vase tells the Jin (265-420 AD) story of Deng Bodao, who was taken prisoner while serving as the governor of Hedong by the rebel leader Shi Le. Following his eventual escape, Bodao, along with his wife, son and nephew were pursued by the rebel mounted troop. The couple realised they would be unable to remain uncaptured carrying both young boys. Thus in the knowledge that they could have another child, they agreed to abandon their own son, tying him to a tree, in order to continue the bloodline of his late brother.

Cf. Freedom of Clay and Brush through Seven Centuries in Northern China: Tz'u-chou Type Wares, 960-1600 A.D., p.192, fig.231 for a related vase.

Together with a copy of Thermoluminescence Analysis Report, sample no.P115e31, dated 24th June 2015.