White Porcelain Child-shaped Pillow of Ding Kiln

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This is a representative artwork of Ding Kiln white porcelain in the Song Dynasty. It is shaped into a prone fat child, with a child back as pillow surface. The child crosses the arms and lies on the bed, with face towards the side and leg raised, which is lively and lovely. This pillow boasts vivid and delicate sculpture means, and condenses the craftsman s emotion for authenticity, goodness and beauty. The figure is made at accurate proportion, while the clothing lines are carved skillfully. Bed is surrounded by refined Chi dragon, hanging cloud, branches and other ornamentations. Only this White Porcelain Childshaped Pillow of Ding Kiln has been found up to now, which is very precious.

The child takes head on the left arm, with wide forehead, a pair of big eyes brimming with radiating vigor, small straight nose, fat ears and hair both sides of the head. He raises head to stare and seems thinking of something. His simple facial expression and serene look shows cute and innocent nature.

Five famous kilns in the Song Dynasty

In the development of Chinese porcelain history, porcelain of the Song Dynasty occupied an important position. At that time, a variety of different-style kilns spread throughout the country, including the most famous Ru Kiln (in Linru, Henan), Guan Kiln (in Kaifeng, Henan), Jun Kiln (in Yuzhou, Henan), Ding Kiln (in Quyang, Hebei) and Ge Kiln (in Longquan, Zhejiang).

Porcelain pillow

Porcelain pillow was used for summer bedding in ancient China. The ancients believed that porcelain pillow could benefit eyesight. Regardless of wealth and rank, they all liked to use porcelain pillow so that the northern and southern kilns fifi red a lot in the Song Dynasty. In general, there are many porcelain pillow shapes. In the Song Dynasty, Child-shaped Pillow was prevalent. Child-shaped Pillows made of Ding Kiln white porcelain, Jingdezhen Blue and White Porcelain and Celadon in Yaozhou Kiln System are handed down, with different postures. Child-shaped Pillows made of Jingdezhen Blue and White Porcelain and Celadon in Yaozhou Kiln System see child lying towards the side and holding a lotus leaf as pillow surface.

Arts and Crafts of the Song Dynasty

The arts and the most outstanding achievement is the ceramic, its scale of production, production technology and art level have reached a higher level. The kilns throughout North and South parts, large output, and each kiln rolled out products with its own artistic characteristics. In addition, dyeing process was developed to achieve a wide variety and sophisticated production . A large specialized production and management organ worked at that time. Kesi (silk tapestry) was outstanding product during this period.