China. Ming Dynasty. Lidded Pot From The Cizhou Kilns.

I am pleased to offer this magnificent and rare lidded jar from the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644), produced in the Cizhou kilns in Hebei Province. The Cizhou kilns are renowned for their sturdy stoneware pieces, covered with a superb creamy-white engobe and a transparent glaze. The floral motifs are hand-painted with brown-black iron oxide pigments before the glaze is applied. Both the body and the lid have a ribbed shape that gives this piece a timeless appearance.
The bottom of the pot, as well as the interior of the lid and the pot, are left unglazed, revealing the distinctive character of this stoneware. An old label corresponding to the Parisian art gallery named “La Compagnie de la Chine et des Indes,” which specialized in Asian art in the early 20th century.
A similar pot, though less well-preserved, is part of the collection at the Cernuschi Museum of Asian Art.