|
Dark Jewels explores the subtle and rich beauty of tea bowls, jars, bottles and other ceramics created during the Northern Song, Southern Song, Jin and Yuan dynasties of China, spanning a 408-year period (960 to 1368). During each of these periods, patronage by the ruling class, the educated elite and the population-at-large had an impact on the development of distinctive aesthetics in ceramics.
Produced at numerous kilns in China over a large geographic area, the black and brown wares present innovative decorative techniques that produced striking patterns and pictorial designs achieved by sophisticated manipulation of iron-oxide-rich glazes. Abstract glazing techniques called hare's fur, tortoiseshell and partridge feathers permeate the collection, giving it a contemporary look.
These works come from the collection of Herbert and Eunice Shatzman of North Carolina, who have amassed Chinese ceramics for over twenty years: "In assembling this collection we have always kept in mind that these pieces were created by unknown artisans, most of whom dedicated their lives to their trade," explain the Shatzmans. "The glory of their efforts is the sophisticated glazes they were able to develop." The collection is a recent gift to the Ackland, where it joins the only public collection of Asian art in North Carolina.
|
