18. Celadon-glazed porcelain drum-shaped jar

Yuan dynasty, 13^th - 14^th century
Longquan kilns, Zhejiang province
Height: 16.5cm
Diameter: 20.7cm
 
Such Yuan dynasty drum-shaped jars decorated with elaborate sprig-moulded peony scrolls are extremely rare and only a few examples of this type are known. The most celebrated is the covered example in the Seikado Foundation, which has been designated an Important Cultural Property in Japan. Like the Seikado Foundation vessel, the jar in the present exhibition is notable for its classic blue-green celadon glaze with its smooth jade-like surface and is decorated with a similar peony scroll.