Celadon Li-shaped Censer, Longquan ware, Southern Song dynasty (1127-1279). Height 11.3 cm, Diameter of mouth 14.4 cm, Girth 47 cm; Weight: 890 g. © Shanghai Museum

Located in present-day Longquan County, Zhejiang province, Longquan Kiln began to produce objects in the Tang dynasty. The products, still profoundly influenced by the Yue Kiln of the Northern Song, usually took on greenish yellow glaze. The two types of glaze, powder blue and plum green, originated in the Southern Song dynasty, and represented the highest level of ancient celadon firing. Multi-leveled glazing was applied on many products, making a bright and fresh green color. 

The tripod censer features its white and hard paste, jade-like smooth glaze. The shoulder of the censer is embossed with bow-string pattern all along. The three edges are embossed from the belly all along to the foot, with the embossment in thin and white glaze, consciously exposing its white body. This is a special and demanding technique of Longquan Kiln used to highlight the fresh green glaze and the pure white body.