Chinese Ceramic Vase

Two small birds perch on the neck, wings raised, as if the vase might leave.

This vase comes from Nanyang in Henan Province, China, and is contemporary, of egg shell and Nanyang porcelain. Crackle glazes, prized since the Song dynasty, form when glaze and body shrink at different rates as they cool, leaving a fine net of lines across the surface. Here the crackle runs all over a pale sky blue glaze. The body swells gently above a flared foot, and the slim neck opens into a scalloped mouth flanked by two stylized bird handles. It is 7.5 inches high and 3 in diameter.

Controlled cracking, done on purpose and done well.