Vessel in form of a rhinoceros. Yuan dynasty, 1270-1300. Jingdezhen kilns, south China
Vessel in form of a rhinoceros. Yuan dynasty, 1270-1300. Jingdezhen kilns, south China. Porcelain with bluish (qingbai) glaze. Height: 11.5 cm, Length: 19 cm. Museum no. C.418-1923 [2007]. Victoria & Albert Museum, London © V&A Images
Bibliographic References: Kerr, Rose. Song dynasty ceramics. London:V&A Publications, 2004, plate 105
The Yuan (1271-1368) is the dynasty when China was ruled by Mongol emperors. Kilns became bigger to take advantage of economy of scale and were managed by competent entrepreneurs. Some kilns active in the preceding decades ceased production, but the Longquan, Jun, Cizhou and Jizhou kilns continued their success. Jingdezhen became an important ceramic producer. Yuan dynasty ceramics are as popular among collectors as their Song dynasty predecessors. This piece is a qingbai ware from Jingdezhen.