Chinese Ceramic Vase

Fine crackle runs across the pale green glaze in every direction, like a map of tiny rivers.

This vase comes from Nanyang in Henan Province, China, and is contemporary, of egg shell and Nanyang porcelain. Crackle glazes were a defining feature of Song dynasty ware, and later potters often reproduced them on purpose. The pear-shaped body has shallow vertical ribs and sits on a lobed foot. A flared mouth tops the long neck, and two small handles flank it. The glaze is a soft spring green with dark lines. It is 3.25 inches wide and 8 high.

Cracked, in the best sense of the word.