Celadon green. Timeless colour

Of all the oldest manufactures of Oriental porcelain, none has achieved greater and more widespread fame than that of the so-called ‘Celadon’. Such was its success that today ‘Celadon green’ is part of the colour pantheons: although today a single tone is indicated under this name, in reality the production history of this type of porcelain offers us various shades.

Starting in the Song Dynasty, production was concentrated in the Longquan area and then exported all over Asia to Europe where it is highly appreciated. The shapes were initially small, elegant and without or with few decorations. As time went by and with the advent of the Yuan dynasty, they grew larger and became powerful, robust and with engraved decorations, mostly floral or naturalistic in character.

The colour took on various shades depending on the era and the firing process, which lacked modern technological sophistication, making the objects different but also unique. Starting from an olive green towards an aqua green of rare workmanship. The most popular shade is the one tending towards green, followed by the blue one, which is enhanced in tone and intensity through translucent glazing.

In the forthcoming Milan auction of Oriental Art on 27 October 2022, the catalogue will present a selection of works from prestigious and passionate private Italian collections of noble families or high state officials, including a rare – in terms of age, size, decoration and state of preservation – concave celadon porcelain dish with fruit and flower decoration, dating back to the early Ming dynasty (1368-1644) (lot 8, estimate €15,000 – €25,000), which was part of the private collection of an important Italian ambassador and has been handed down by inheritance.

Standing out for rarity is a rare tripod censer with lid, in gilded sketched bronze, China, Qing Dynasty, Qianlong period (1736-1795) (lot 88, estimate €50,000 – 80,000), a rare pair of large octagonal candlesticks with bronze cloisonné enamels, China, Qing Dynasty, Qianlong period (1736-1795) (lot 90, estimate €15. 000 – 18,000) and a rare concave porcelain dish decorated in blue underglaze and iron red dragons, China, Qing Dynasty, Xianfeng period (1851-1861) (lot 81, estimate €3,000 – 5,000).