Chinese Ceramic Vase

Eight sides, and every one of them the color of a cold clear morning.

This vase is from Nanyang, Henan Province, China, and is contemporary. It is egg shell and Nanyang porcelain. Faceted vessels and crackled glazes both have deep roots in Chinese ceramics, and pieces like this draw openly on that history. The body is octagonal, broad at the shoulder and tapering to a flared foot. A narrow faceted neck flares at the lip, and pale lines mark every edge. The glaze is a light sky blue, finely crackled throughout. It is 4 inches wide, 4 deep and 10.25 high.

Geometry with a soft voice.