Evaluation: The Differences between Ancient and Modern Celadon

Christie's , a household name for auction houses for old and contemporary art, has sold a rare, small antique celadon jarlet that had dated back to the Song Dynasty (960-129). 

Being of Longquan origin, the antique featured a long-legged hare standing beside a globular jarlet with sharp-edged high shoulder and a short neck grasped between the outstretched front legs of the hare, while its back feet are supported by the spreading foot of the jar, covered overall with a crackled, translucent glaze of soft sea-green tone.

This endearing jarlet represents the hare stirring the 'elixir of life', derived from the Chinese folklore, 'The Legend of Chang e'. The hare is associated with the Moon Goddess in folklore, therefore it also denotes femininity and fertility. Fang Jing Pei, Treasures of the Chinese Scholar, New York, 1997, p. 77, has a similar celadon specimen and discussion.

This piece punched highly above its estimated lot, where it was predicted to sell between $500-800 USD, but instead made the lot for an impressive $ 9,988 USD. 

The Appearance of Old Celadon

In most cases, even casual observation can tell the difference between old and new celadon. Because the majority of Koryo era celadon in Korea, for example, was retrieved from graves in the early 1900s where it had been buried for hundreds of years, it has the appearance of being aged. That example, the color is regularly faded from its original brilliance, the glazing is frequently pockmarked from water damage, and it is frequently damaged - fixed or not.

The foundation of a piece is another indicator of its age. During the Koryo Dynasty, kilns were composed of earth and had sand or dirt floors. Because the pots were placed on bare floors, they tended to gather up residue or have their bases bent as a result of contact with the floor. To keep the item off the kiln floor, potters would place three little bits of sand, pebbles, or shells underneath it. The sand bits were broken off after the shooting, but they left distinctive "spur markings" on the bottom of the piece. Modern celadon is produced in sterile kilns and is free of spur scars.

Modern celadon almost always has the artisan's mark printed in Chinese characters, while old celadon usually didn't, or if it did, the symbol was so faded that it couldn't be read. Glazed bottoms, which are now standard on all modern celadon, were not always used on older celadon due to the difficulties of keeping the base clear of debris.

The Value of Old Celadon

Old celadon can be worth anything from $500 for a badly maintained, misshapen bowl with damage to priceless for a pristine specimen like those found in National Museums. All old celadon is normally highly precious, and even pieces that are unfinished owing to breakage usually have value. The tough part is determining the exact value. As previously stated, age, uniqueness, skill involved in its creation, and level of preservation are the general parameters for establishing a piece's value. The age of a piece, as with most antiques, has a significant impact, as the older an item is, the more precious it is.

Image: White porcelain shards with inlaid decoration, from the 12 or 13th century

Modern Celadon: Appearance

The appearance of modern celadon (produced since the rebirth of celadon in the 1950s) differs depending on when it was made. Because the skill of celadon craftspeople has improved over time, early works will have a less brilliant or uniform glaze color, less symmetry in their shapes, and less detail in their inlaid motifs. More recent pieces all have a somewhat symmetrical shape, homogeneous color, and reasonably intricate inlay. The name of the artisan who created the item is printed in Chinese characters on the glazed base of most modern celadon. The distinction between high-quality modern celadon and lower-quality celadon can be seen in the detail of the inlay or painting, as well as the consistency and color of the glaze. The inlaid and painted elements of a lesser quality work will appear blurry and fuzzy upon close scrutiny, whilst those of higher quality will be clear in detail and form. Another distinguishing element is the glaze's depth and color. The rich hue and purity of superior works' deep jade-green glaze much outweighs that of lesser works.

Modern Celadon: Value 

As with antique celadon, determining the value might be difficult. As previously said, three aspects contribute to the worth of a modern piece: beauty, uniqueness, and the reputation of the artist who created it. The higher the value of a piece, which includes the quality of craftsmanship, consistent color of glaze, and design intricacy, the more attractive it is. A highly elaborate work also takes longer to develop, therefore there are likely fewer copies of it, increasing its worth even more. As a result, quality is usually accompanied by originality. Renowned artisans create higher-quality pieces that take longer to complete, so they produce fewer of them, making them more unique.

Contemporary Celadon Art Pieces at Jade Celadon

Enjoy the ineffable luxury of owning your own piece of contemporary/modern celadon-ware with Jade Celadon. Our pieces have a smooth, consistent glaze and artists signature stamp on the bottom of these premium works. If you would love to own an emblem of strength and luxury in your own home, do check out the many items of home decor we have available - many with symbolic animal themes such as tigers, koi fish and oxen. Featuring our Oxen set, "Fortune Favours the Brave", retailing at $680 SGD for a set of 3 premium celadon designs, 

This stylistic series of handcrafted artisanal Jade Celadon was specially made to celebrate the Year of The Ox. Using a sleek, minimalistic design, this stoic symbol of strength and fortitude is crafted in modern rendition, and is a perfect reminder for us to stay focused on our goals while powering through adversity. In Chinese culture, oxen are symbols of wealth, prosperity, diligence, and perseverance.

If you would like to view or purchase this exclusive celadon series, you may follow this link: https://celadon.sg/products/fortune-favours-the-brave