120 - Stoneware flask with black glaze, China, Song Dynasty, 10th–13th century

Stoneware flask with black glaze, China, Song Dynasty, 10th–13th century Porcelain stoneware with a lustrous black glaze. Measures 16 x 6 cm. A globular flask with a compact volume, articulated by a short neck that culminates in a widened mouth set at a slight angle, adding dynamism to the overall silhouette. Two oval handles applied to the shoulder visually structure the piece and reinforce its formal balance, integrating naturally into the composition. The black glaze uniformly covers the body and neck, creating a deep, glossy surface that contrasts with the unglazed base, where the ceramic paste is deliberately visible. This technical feature, characteristic of pottery from southern China, underscores the relationship between material and finish, and highlights the mastery of the firing process. The formal sobriety, combined with the visual richness of the enamel, responds to the aesthetic ideals of the Song Dynasty (960–1279), where restraint, harmony and technical quality prevail over ornamentation, giving the piece a serene presence and a remarkable visual intensity within the Chinese ceramic tradition.