Azure-glazed vase from the Yuan Dynasty

This Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) azure-glazed Jun ware vase, standing an impressive 63.2 centimeters in height, presents a striking presence. Its form, with a rim elegantly folding outward into a five-petal flower shape, a long neck, round shoulders, a tapering belly, and a five-hole base, showcases the appeal of the bold sculptural form typical of Yuan Dynasty Jun ware.

The vibrant, lustrous azure glaze, characteristic of Jun ware with its unpredictable purple splashes, lends the vase a dynamic and almost contemporary feel. This interplay between the classical silhouette and the expressive, almost abstract glaze treatment gives the piece both a timeless, classic appeal and a surprisingly modern aesthetic sensibility.

Discovered in 1972 at a Yuan Dynasty site in Xicheng district, Beijing, it now resides in the National Museum of China.