THE PEAL VASE is an exquisite celadon vase with crackled glaze all over it inside and out. Crackle, a network of irregular cracks in the glaze caused by a disagreement in the rate of shrinkage between body and glaze during cooling. From the Song Dynasty and onward crackles seems to have been intentionally produced as decoration. The appearance could be stained with soot or other pigment being rubbed into the cracks. Crackle decoration is to be found on Song Dynasty wares such as Guan and Ge. The crackle of fine brownish lines and thicker transparent lines is called 'Gold Thread and Silver Wire'. The transparent cracks will keep growing after manufacture on a very slow pace for many years.

The most impressive nature of crackled glazing is its uniqueness. No two of the textures can be the same. That was why the State Department of China used the peal vase by Mao Zhengcong as state gift. Each peal vase was noted with serial number and only the president level that was qualified the state gift.

In order to create the jade-like impression the celadon ceramist has to repeat the glazing for several layers. Thicker glaze creates the greater visual effect but on the other hand, the difficulty to manage the glazes presentation multiples.

Mao Zhengcong is the guru in making such artwork. This is a stunning example of Mao's artwork. The peal vase is simply magical. In addition to the traditional celadon body clays as the major fundamental, inlaid pale clays create the peal pattern to present a very nice visual effect in terms of the color contrast. It is extremely difficult to get the mixed clays to perfect during the firing. When you look at the peal dot that ranked on the body of the vase in symmetry order, the peal vase is really one of the treasures from Mao Zhengcong' entire potting career.

THE PEAL VASE is in perfect condition and Mao Zhengcong's chop on base with certificate signed and original wooden box form his workshop.

Year of Completion: 2007

Mouth Rim Diameter: 4.8cm

Base Rim Diameter: 10cm

Height: 30.8cm

Net Weigh: 2.6kg

ABOUT MAO ZHENGCONG

Since last century when the Chinese government began awarding the title of China Art & Craft Master (similar to the Japanese Living National Treasure) to craftsmen, 3 ceramists who specialized in Longquan celadon have been honored thus far (through 2008). In January 2007, Mr. Mao Zhengcong was added to this extremely distinguished list. Mao is the second celadon ceramists (together with Mr. Xiaho Wen) to reach this summit. He is the first generation celadon ceramist since People of The Republic of China established in 1949.

Mao Zhengcong was born in 1940 at Longquan City of Zhejiang Province. He started the ceramist career since his teenage as the worker in State-owned celadon factory. In 1996 Mao built his workshop and kiln after his retirement from the Director to Celadon Research Institution of Longquan.

Mao Zhengcong's celadon artworks exhibit a natural, decent and classic sense of style, his many experiences in plum-green glazes and bluish glazes have produced new and unique celadon glazes that are authentically Mao Zhengcong's.

During Mao's work in the State-owned factory his celadon artworks were appreciated by collectors in Asia already. A number of prestige persons such as Mr. Deng Xiaoping, Mrs. Margaret Thacher and Dr. Henry A. Kissinger also praised Mao's celadon as the Chinese culture treasure in early 90'. Due to the recognition from international society Mao was assigned to produce the state gift for the government since 1992. His stunning artworks also collected and exhibited by Palace Museum in Beijing, Chinese Art & Craft Museum and Celadon Museum of Longquan City to name a few.