1964年5月，河北省保定市永華南路小學的建築工地出土了一處元代窖藏，出土了11件珍貴的元代瓷器，件件堪稱珍品。其中特別珍稀的，是兩件青花釉里紅開光花卉紋蓋罐，堪稱元代青花瓷的頂級代表。目前，一件珍藏於河北省文物保護中心，另一件則藏於北京故宮博物院。
這類元代青花釉里紅開光蓋罐在全球僅存四件，其中兩件流失海外，而河北省文物保護中心所藏這件保存最為完整，被譽為中國乃至全世界保存最佳的青花釉里紅瓷器範例。
圖片來源：keep walking
河北省文物保護中心藏品概況
該蓋罐為元代景德鎮窯出品，通高41厘米，口徑15.5厘米，足徑18.5厘米。罐體直口短頸，溜肩鼓腹，圈足砂底無釉。獅紐傘形蓋，胎體自上而下漸厚，質地細膩，青花濃艷，釉里紅略顯暗雅。蓋罐以青花與釉里紅相輔相成，呈現出華麗而高雅的藝術效果。
罐蓋及罐身飾有多層次的紋飾：蓋上繪青花蓮瓣紋、卷草紋、回紋各一周，罐口沿處繪纏枝花卉和卷草紋，肩部飾如意雲頭紋及青花水波托白蓮，間繪折枝牡丹紋，構圖豐滿渾厚。罐腹四側的雙菱形開光內以鏤雕工藝勾勒四季園景，釉里紅描繪山石與花卉，青花繪葉，產生立體的浮雕效果，整體藝術風格雍容典雅。
故宮博物院藏品介紹
另一件蓋罐存於北京故宮博物院。該館共藏有約35萬件陶瓷文物，其中僅400余件可公開展出，而此蓋罐被單獨展示於陶瓷館中央，備受矚目。此罐的蓋在出土時已有損壞，後經修復才得以重現於世人眼前。該罐亦因青花與釉里紅相襯，在古樸中透出高雅華美，是元代青花釉里紅瓷器的卓越範例。
大英博物館與其他同類藏品
在大英博物館第95號陳列室展出的另一件元青花釉里紅蓋罐，屬大維德基金會收藏，工藝與河北省藏品極為相似。此罐於20世紀30年代由斐西瓦樂·大維德爵士自中國購得，代表了元代青花釉里紅裝飾的典型風格。
此外，尚有一件元青花釉里紅蓋罐為私人收藏，據悉該器物尺寸略小，曾於1972年由倫敦佳士得拍賣會售出，後輾轉收藏於著名古董商埃斯凱納齊之手。2005年7月，埃斯凱納齊於佳士得拍得“鬼谷下山”元青花大罐，以2.3億人民幣的高價，創下當時中國藝術品拍賣紀錄，充分顯示出元青花釉里紅蓋罐的價值與地位。
元青花釉里紅瓷器的歷史與技術成就
元代景德鎮的工匠創新地將青花和釉里紅施於同一器物，這一技術的成熟標誌了元代陶瓷工藝的卓越進步。青花以氧化鈷呈色，色彩穩定，釉里紅則以氧化銅呈色，因揮發性強，對燒成氣氛要求嚴苛。此類蓋罐的製作不僅反映了工匠高超的技術，亦為中國陶瓷史留下一段輝煌篇章。
圖片來源：keep walking
In May 1964, an excavation site at Yonghua South Road Elementary School in Baoding, Hebei Province, unearthed a Yuan Dynasty cache that included 11 exquisite Yuan-era ceramic pieces, each considered a masterpiece. Among these finds, two jars with floral motifs in underglaze blue and red are particularly rare, representing the pinnacle of Yuan blue-and-red ceramics. Currently, one jar is preserved at the Hebei Cultural Heritage Protection Center, while the other resides in the Palace Museum in Beijing.
Only four such Yuan underglaze blue-and-red jars are known to exist worldwide, with two pieces located outside China. The piece held by the Hebei Cultural Heritage Protection Center is the best-preserved among them and is recognized as one of the finest examples of Yuan blue-and-red ceramics, both in China and globally.
The Hebei Cultural Heritage Protection Center Collection
The jar, from a Yuan Dynasty kiln in Jingdezhen, stands at 41 cm in height with a 15.5 cm mouth diameter and an 18.5 cm foot diameter. It features a straight mouth, short neck, sloping shoulders, full belly, and ring foot with an unglazed sandy base. The jar is topped with a lion knob lid, characterized by a thickening lower body and fine, smooth texture. The underglaze blue is vibrant, while the underglaze red appears subtly dark, combining to create a sophisticated and harmonious aesthetic.
The jar’s lid and body are adorned with layered patterns: lotus petals, scrollwork, and geometric designs encircle the lid, while the rim of the body is decorated with scrolling flowers and vines. The shoulder features cloud-head motifs with stylized lotus flowers, and the body bears diamond-shaped, beaded cartouches enclosing intricate openwork of seasonal garden scenes. These designs, rendered with both underglaze red and blue, produce a relief effect, imbuing the piece with an air of elegance and grandeur.
The Palace Museum Collection
The Palace Museum in Beijing houses the twin of this jar, displayed prominently in the central area of its ceramics gallery. This jar was slightly damaged when unearthed and was later restored. Like its counterpart, this jar’s combination of underglaze blue and red achieves an intricate yet refined visual effect, showcasing the artistic sophistication of Yuan Dynasty ceramics.
Similar Pieces at the British Museum and Private Collections
Another similar jar, part of the David Foundation Collection, is on display in Room 95 of the British Museum. Acquired in the 1930s by Sir Percival David, this jar mirrors the craftsmanship and design of the Hebei jar, embodying the distinctive Yuan Dynasty style of blue-and-red decoration.
Additionally, a smaller privately owned jar of this style was auctioned at Christie’s in London in 1972 and was eventually acquired by the renowned antique dealer Giuseppe Eskenazi. In July 2005, Eskenazi famously acquired the “Guiguzi Descending the Mountain” large Yuan blue-and-white jar at Christie’s for a record-breaking 156.88 million GBP, demonstrating the high value and importance attributed to Yuan underglaze red and blue ceramics.
The Historical and Technical Significance of Yuan Blue-and-Red Ceramics
The innovative combination of underglaze blue and red on a single piece reflects the technical advancements achieved by Yuan-era Jingdezhen artisans. While cobalt oxide was used to achieve the stable blue tones, copper oxide, responsible for the red, was highly volatile, demanding precise kiln conditions. These jars are not only a testament to the artisans’ exceptional skills but also mark an important chapter in the history of Chinese ceramics, exemplifying the grandeur and refinement of Yuan Dynasty ceramic art.
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