Vase: Qingbai Shufu-type ware (pair with 1975.1.1669) 14th century

Editor: This is a pair of Qingbai Shufu-type ware vases, dating back to the 14th century. Crafted in ceramic, they strike me as remarkably simple yet elegant, especially given their age. The glazing gives a wonderfully subtle light-blue hue, doesn't it? What immediately jumps out at you when you look at them? Curator: They do whisper elegance, don't they? I see quiet strength. Look at the almost austere lines, the subtle asymmetry even within the pair, especially in the handles. One is almost minimalist, with the simple ring. The other shows flourishes suggestive of dragons, hinting at powerful symbolism beneath the calm exterior. Doesn't it make you wonder what liquid, maybe something precious, they once held? Editor: It does! They feel incredibly tactile, too. Knowing they’re ceramic, I’m picturing the process and the craftsman shaping them… It seems incredible, centuries later, that they still exist. How do these pieces fit into the bigger picture of ceramic art at the time? Curator: Well, Qingbai ware was incredibly popular and technically innovative at the time. Think of it as the "high tech" pottery of the 14th century, much sought after. It allowed for mass production while still achieving a very refined aesthetic. These examples, the "Shufu-type," were specifically commissioned for government use; Shufu translates roughly to "Privy Council." See how even functional objects carry social and political weight. Do they feel strictly “functional” to you, though? Editor: Not entirely. Knowing their history definitely adds a layer. Before, I appreciated their simplicity, but now I see that minimalism reflecting the control and austerity of the government. Curator: Exactly! Art whispers secrets, doesn't it? Even through silence and simplicity, power speaks. Editor: It truly does. Thanks, I feel like I'm looking at them with completely different eyes now. Curator: My pleasure! Ceramics always feels like holding a piece of the past, fired and frozen in time.