A Very Fine and Old Terra Cotta Jar from the Kinh (Viet) People Northern Viet Nam, 13th-14th Century,#396 a Sold

396 a.This piece is a really fine example of the brown earthenware of the Ly Dynasty (the first period of Vietnamese history after the expulsion of the Chinese overlords in the Tenth Century). 3.5 x 5.5. Excellent Condition. A general description of the ware and its evolution appears above. This has the quintessential shape, with characteristic linear decorations, concentrated on the upper half of the vessel. Inside, evidence of the blue glaze (also mentioned above) can be clearly seen. It is likely that the piece was glazed on both the inside and the outside initially. However, as is often the case with low-fired ware, the glaze is mostly gone from the outer surface. This is the part that would absorb the stress of handling, dropping, etc. The relatively poor adherence of the glazes used (and the low firing temperatures) could not withstand this, and much or even all, of it falls off or flakes off. In this case, the contrast between the inside and outside is appealing. Of note is the