Title: Imperial Celadon-Glazed "Yuhuchun" Vase with Silver Rim, Ru Ware, Song Dynasty

Dynasty: Song Dynasty

Provenance: Former collection of a Japanese family

Current Location: MUFJ Bank Vault, Japan

Market Valuation: $50,000,000 – $100,000,000

Market Valuation

Valuation Rationale: In 2012, Sotheby’s Hong Kong sold a "Ru Ware Celadon-Glazed Sunflower Washer" from the special auction The Classic Age of Ru Ware: An Important Japanese Collection of Song Ceramics for HKD 207.86 million. In another Sotheby’s auction held on October 3, 2017—Quintessential Elegance: Song Ceramics from the Le Cong Tang Collection—a “Ru Ware Celadon-Glazed Washer” formerly housed in the Hongxi Museum, Taipei, fetched HKD 294 million. These pieces were small and categorized as reclining vessels, and it is an unwritten rule in the ceramics world that: reclining vessels are less valuable than sitting vessels, which in turn are less valuable than standing vessels. Washers are reclining vessels, bowls are sitting vessels, while the Yuhuchun vase is a standing vessel. Therefore, this Yuhuchun vase is conservatively valued at no less than USD 70 million.

Basic Information

Dimensions: Height: 27 cm; Base Diameter: 8.3 cm

Material: Porcelain

Form: Yuhuchun Vase

Inscription:

The Song's celadon kilns rose in Ruzhou's land, Legends say agate dust graced its glaze so grand; Yet Jingdezhen now lacks this ancient art, Still, their blue rivals gems, a craftsman's heart.

— Inscribed by Imperial Order, Spring of Bingshen Year, Qianlong Reign (1786)

Collection Description

This vase features a flared mouth with a silver rim, slender neck, and ring foot. The porcelain body is thin and covered inside and out with a sky-blue celadon glaze incorporating powdered agate, giving it a lustrous texture described as "as blue as the sky, as smooth as jade." The glaze bears a network of crackles forming cicada-wing and willow-leaf patterns, irregularly spaced with artistic flair. The fully glazed base shows five small firing spur marks—evidence of the “fully supported firing” method and a hallmark of Ru ware known as the "sesame seed" pattern. The poem cited above, inscribed on the base, was composed by the Qianlong Emperor and carved by imperial artisans in 1786.

This piece exemplifies the classic "Yuhuchun" vase form, which evolved from ritual vessels used in Tang dynasty temples and became popular as wine vessels during the Song dynasty. The name derives from poetic lines such as “buying spring in a jade vase, admiring the rain in a thatched cottage,” symbolizing the refined pleasure of drinking. The vase’s silhouette is graceful with a slender neck and rounded belly, its curves likened to a rising crescent moon—both soft and strong—earning it the title of "the porcelain beauty portrait." The vase’s elegant form and rarity as a surviving masterpiece render it exceptionally valuable.

This artifact is rich in cultural significance and artistic merit. As recorded in Zhou Hui’s Miscellaneous Records from the Clear Waves from the Southern Song:

"Ru ware was exclusively fired for the imperial court, using powdered agate in the glaze. Only rejected imperial pieces were allowed to be sold to the public, making them increasingly rare.”

This further attests to the rarity and prestige of Ru ware, a culmination of artistic brilliance.

Historical Context

During the reign of Emperor Huizong of Song, the country embraced Daoism as a means of stabilizing society and easing class tensions. Daoist aesthetics favored simplicity and subtlety, elevating the idea of “naturalness” or “plainness” as the ultimate form of beauty—above both masculine and feminine ideals. Laozi’s teachings—“Embrace simplicity, reduce desires”—and his view that “too many colors blind the eye” promoted an appreciation for unadorned elegance.

This philosophy permeated the decorative arts and greatly influenced the ceramics used by the literati class. Their favored porcelain style was characterized by refinement, purity, and understated elegance. Among the famed celadon kilns of the time—Yue, Ru, Yaozhou, and Longquan—Ru ware was unique for its sky-blue glaze, unlike the greenish hues common to the others. Its balanced, modest beauty resonated deeply with the tastes of the Northern Song elite.

Biographies

Emperor Huizong of Song (Zhao Ji, 1082–1135)

The 8th emperor of the Song Dynasty, reigned from February 23, 1100, to January 18, 1126. Known for his artistic achievements, he adopted the title “Sovereign Daoist Emperor” and promoted Daoism at court. A gifted painter and calligrapher, he founded the Imperial Painting Academy and nurtured talents such as Wang Ximeng. His editorial contributions include *Xuanhe Calligraphy Catalogue*, *Xuanhe Painting Catalogue*, and *Xuanhe Antiquities*, which remain invaluable references in art history. He created the distinctive "Slender Gold" calligraphy style, with major works such as *Hibiscus and Golden Pheasant*, *Red Smartweed and White Geese*, and *Autumn Evening at a Pond*.

Emperor Qianlong of Qing (Aisin Gioro Hongli, 1711–1799)

The sixth emperor of the Qing dynasty, reigning for 60 years before abdicating and continuing to rule behind the scenes for an additional three years—making him the longest-ruling and longest-lived emperor in Chinese history. His era name “Qianlong” means “Heavenly Prosperity.” Deeply passionate about porcelain, he elevated its artistry to new heights, combining utility with aesthetic refinement. Qianlong composed over 48,000 poems in his lifetime, with more than 300 dedicated to porcelain. These were often engraved on the ceramics themselves. He especially admired Ru ware, famously praising it with lines like “Ru ware ranks supreme, new vessels surpassing the old.” His admiration stemmed not only from its exquisite craftsmanship but also from the profound cultural legacy it embodies.