Preliminary identification
Photo reference
5 uploaded photos
Overview
This is a striking ceramic vase featuring a flared rim, a slender neck, and a pear-shaped body decorated in the classic Cizhou style. It showcases a hand-painted, charmingly stylized rabbit nestled among grasses, rendered in bold black slip over a creamy white glaze.
Story
Rabbits have symbolized longevity and the moon in Chinese folklore for millennia. This lively, calligraphic painting style was pioneered by folk potters who broke away from formal imperial designs to create art for everyday people.
Maker / Origin
While original Cizhou wares were produced in Hebei province during the Song and Yuan dynasties, this piece is a 20th-century revival. These later workshops sought to capture the spontaneous, expressive brushwork of the ancient masters, which feels remarkably modern.
Condition & Value
The vase shows visible surface wear, minor pitting, staining, and crazing consistent with age or deliberate antiquing. There is a visible hairline crack or firing line running down the flared neck, which reduces the value by approximately 30%.
Full Research
Sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance pulled from recent auction results.
Build on this identification
Layer in sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance.
Comparable demand stays strongest where maker, originality, and venue confidence line up. Broader examples still trade, but the range tightens quickly when provenance, condition, or selling lane fit is missing.
Best Venue
Specialty auction or a focused dealer with buyers already in this lane.
Signed example with light edge wear and original frame.
Comparable format with stronger provenance and cleaner surface.
Smaller related piece with visible craquelure and trimmed margins.
Period match with softer condition and weaker subject matter.
Close market lane comp with similar material and presentation.