Chinese Ceramic Vase

A long, narrow neck on a plump faceted body, in green the color of jade.

This vase comes from Nanyang in Henan Province, China, and is contemporary, of egg shell and Nanyang porcelain. Jade-green glazes are a long-standing favorite in Chinese ceramics, evoking the stone itself, which is deeply valued in Chinese culture. The hexagonal body swells beneath a tall, six-sided neck, and rests on a small stepped foot. Two bird-shaped handles with loops sit at the shoulder, and a dense net of dark crackle covers the glaze. It is 3.5 inches wide and 7.75 high.

Sharp-edged, and relaxed about it.