A LONGQUAN CELADON TOBI SEIJI SPOTTED BOTTLE, YUAN DYNASTY (1279-1368)

A Longquan ware of a type far burned in Japan, the Tobi seiji or spotted celadon, distinguished by splashes of dark brown.
The beauty of tobi seiji lies primarily in the rich dark brown spots that create a striking visual impact on the otherwise subtle celadon surface. In fact, the name tobi seiji, literally ‘flying spot green ware’ in Japanese, was given by ancient Japanese tea masters for the dramatic appearance of iron spots. Such spots were added, using a brush, to the surface of the unfired glaze before the pieces were fired. These seemingly spontaneously added spots in fact follow a very thoughtful design principle.
Height: 24.5 cm.

Acquired in 1985