Brush-washer with guan-type glaze. Stoneware with guan-type crackled glaze. Guan-type ware. Probably Jingdezhen, Jiangxi province 江西省, 景德鎮. Ming dynasty, AD 1368–1644. On loan from Sir Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art. PDF A18 © Trustees of the British Museum

Height:  35 mm. Diameter: 112 mm. Diameter: 60 mm (base). Guan-type stoneware flower-shaped brush-washer with eight-lobed rim. The brush-washer has a dark grey body and thick grey glaze with close crackle stained black. There are six small spur marks on the base, which is glazed, as is the foot-rim.

官 (guan ‘official’) celadon glaze was invented in the Southern Song dynasty (AD 1127–1279) and much copied in later dynasties.

Bibliographic reference: Yorke Hardy, Sheila, Tung, Ju, Kuan, Chun, Kuang-tung & Glazed I-hsing Wares in the Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art, London, University of London, Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art, School of Oriental and African Studies, 1953

Pierson, Stacey, Illustrated catalogue of Ru, Guan, Jun, Guangdong and Yixing wares in the Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art, London, University of London, Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art, School of Oriental and African Studies, 1999