一、器物概览

名称：宋代柴窑黄釉瓜棱四方瓶
尺寸：高13cm，口径4.5cm，底径3cm
釉色：黄釉（釉色温润如蜜，光晕流动如脂）
器型：四方瓜棱形制，撇口、束颈、垂腹、浅卧足，四棱凸起如瓜瓣，棱线刚柔相济，转折处圆润自然，兼具几何规整与仿生灵动之美。

二、历史价值：柴窑之尊，黄釉之珍

1. 柴窑的传奇地位 柴窑为五代后周世宗柴荣御窑，位列“五大名窑”之首，以“青如天、明如镜、薄如纸、声如磬”四绝闻名。此瓶虽为黄釉，却完美承袭柴窑核心工艺： 釉质：釉层薄透而莹润，光线下呈现“蜜蜡凝光”的质感，釉面开细密冰裂纹，如春水涟漪，符合文献记载“滋润细媚有细纹”之特征。

2. 胎体：白胎微泛灰，质地细腻坚致，叩击声清越悠长，恰似金石相击，印证“声如磬”的柴窑精髓。

3. 足部工艺：粗黄土垫烧痕迹清晰，底足未施釉处呈铁褐色，局部积釉形成自然流淌的“泪痕”，为五代至宋初匣钵垫烧法的典型特征。

• 黄釉的稀缺性与象征意义
  宋代黄釉瓷器极为罕见，因黄色为皇家专属，民间禁烧。此瓶黄釉色泽纯正，不似后世黄釉的浓艳或暗沉，而是如初熟蜜桃般温润含蓄，暗合宋代“尚雅忌俗”的审美风尚。其出现或为宫廷定制，亦可能是柴窑对釉色创新的珍贵尝试，存世量屈指可数。

三、艺术价值：方寸之间，尽显宋瓷极简美学

瓜棱造型的匠心独运
瓜棱瓶始于唐代，宋代发展为南北窑口经典器型。此瓶以四方为基，突破传统圆器框架，通过四道凸棱将器身分割为对称的瓜瓣，棱线挺拔如削，转折处却圆润柔和，既模仿自然瓜果的生机，又暗含“天圆地方”的哲学意蕴。

比例与线条的极致考究
高13cm的器身修长而不失稳重，口径4.5cm与底径3cm的微妙差异，形成“上敞下收”的视觉张力。颈部内收与腹部垂坠的曲线过渡自然，整体造型如一位谦谦君子，亭亭玉立，尽显宋代“以素为美”的极简风范。

四、收藏价值：稀世珍品，市场追捧的焦点

存世量与市场稀缺性
柴窑瓷器传世极少，完整器更是凤毛麟角。据统计，全球公开博物馆及私人收藏中，柴窑黄釉器不足十件，此瓶为其中罕见的四方瓜棱形制，堪称“孤品级”藏品。

拍卖市场表现与潜力
近年宋代瓷器拍卖屡创天价，如2021年香港苏富比一件宋代汝窑天青釉洗以2.94亿港元成交。柴窑作为宋代瓷器巅峰，其市场价值尚未被充分挖掘。此瓶若现身拍卖，预计将引发藏家激烈竞逐，具备极高的增值空间。

五、推荐理由：收藏宋代瓷器的终极之选

• • 历史性：柴窑正统，黄釉稀珍，见证宋代皇室审美与制瓷巅峰。 • 艺术性：瓜棱四方造型独树一帜，釉色与胎体浑然天成，堪称“宋瓷极简主义”的典范。 • 稀缺性：存世量极少，市场流通性低，是藏家梦寐以求的“镇馆之宝”。 • 投资性：宋代瓷器市场持续升温，柴窑作为“五大名窑”之首，未来价值不可估量。

结语
此件宋代柴窑黄釉瓜棱四方瓶，以稀世之釉、绝妙之形、千古之韵，凝聚了宋代瓷器的最高成就。它不仅是历史的见证者，更是艺术的永恒载体。对于藏家而言，拥有一件柴窑真品，便是拥有一段穿越千年的美学对话，一份无可替代的文化传承。



1、 Overview of Artifacts

Name: Song Dynasty Chai Kiln Yellow Glazed Melon Edged Square Vase

Size: Height 13cm, Diameter 4.5cm, Bottom Diameter 3cm

Glaze color: Yellow glaze (glaze color is warm and moist like honey, halo flows like grease)

Type: Made in the shape of a square melon edge, with a curved mouth, neck, hanging belly, and shallow lying feet. The four edges protrude like melon petals, with a combination of rigidity and softness. The turning points are smooth and natural, combining the beauty of geometric regularity and biomimetic agility.

2、 Historical Value: The Prestige of Chai Kiln, the Treasure of Yellow Glaze

1. The legendary status of the Chai kiln

Chai kiln is the Chai Rongyu kiln of Emperor Shizong of the Later Zhou Dynasty, ranking first among the "Five Famous Kilns". It is famous for its four wonders: "green as the sky, bright as a mirror, thin as paper, and sound like a bell". Although this bottle is yellow glazed, it perfectly inherits the core craftsmanship of the Chai kiln:

1. Enamel: The glaze layer is thin, transparent, and lustrous, presenting a texture of "beeswax condensation" under light. The glaze surface has fine ice cracks, like spring water ripples, which conforms to the characteristics of "moisturizing, delicate, and fine lines" recorded in literature.

2. Body: The white body is slightly grayish, with a delicate and firm texture. The knocking sound is clear and long-lasting, just like the collision of gold and stone, confirming the essence of the "sound like a bell" in the wood kiln.

3. Foot technique: The rough yellow soil pad has clear burn marks, and the unglazed area of the bottom foot is iron brown. Local glaze accumulation forms naturally flowing "tear marks", which is a typical feature of the box bowl pad burn method from the Five Dynasties to the early Song Dynasty.

2. The scarcity and symbolic significance of yellow glaze

Yellow glazed porcelain from the Song Dynasty is extremely rare, as yellow is exclusive to the royal family and is prohibited from being burned by the people. This bottle of yellow glaze has a pure color, unlike the thick or dull yellow glaze of later generations, but is warm and subtle like a ripe peach, which is in line with the aesthetic trend of the Song Dynasty's "emphasis on elegance and avoidance of vulgarity". Its appearance may have been customized for the court, or it could have been a precious attempt by the Chai kiln to innovate glaze colors, with only a few surviving.

3、 Artistic value: Within every inch, it showcases the minimalist aesthetic of Song porcelain

Unique craftsmanship in the shape of melon edges

Gualeng vase originated in the Tang Dynasty and developed into a classic type of ware in the southern and northern kilns during the Song Dynasty. This bottle is based on four corners, breaking through the traditional circular framework and dividing the body into symmetrical melon petals through four convex edges. The edges are straight and sharp, while the turning points are smooth and soft. It not only imitates the vitality of natural fruits, but also implies the philosophical meaning of "heaven is round and earth is square".

The ultimate pursuit of proportion and lines

The 13cm tall body is slender yet steady, with a subtle difference between a 4.5cm diameter and a 3cm base diameter, creating a visual tension of "open up and close down". The curve transition between the neck adduction and the abdominal sagging is natural, and the overall shape resembles a humble gentleman, standing tall and elegant, showcasing the minimalist style of the Song Dynasty's "beauty in simplicity".

4、 Collection value: Rare treasures, the focus of market pursuit

Existence and market scarcity

Chai kiln porcelain has been passed down very rarely, and complete vessels are even rarer. According to statistics, there are less than ten pieces of yellow glazed pottery from the Chai kiln in public museums and private collections worldwide. This bottle is made of a rare square shaped melon rib and can be considered a "rare" collection.

Auction market performance and potential

In recent years, Song Dynasty porcelain auctions have repeatedly set sky high prices, such as a Song Dynasty Ru kiln sky blue glaze wash sold for HKD 294 million at Sotheby's Hong Kong in 2021. As the pinnacle of Song Dynasty porcelain, the market value of Chai kiln has not been fully explored. If this bottle appears for auction, it is expected to trigger fierce competition among collectors and has extremely high potential for appreciation.

5、 Reason for recommendation: The ultimate choice for collecting Song Dynasty porcelain

Historical significance: The orthodox Chai kiln, rare yellow glaze, witnessed the peak of aesthetic appreciation and porcelain production of the Song Dynasty royal family.

Artistic quality: The unique square shape of Gualeng porcelain blends seamlessly with the glaze color and body, making it a model of "Song Dynasty minimalism".

Scarcity: With extremely small quantities in existence and low market liquidity, it is the coveted "treasure of the museum" for collectors.

Investment oriented: The Song Dynasty porcelain market continued to heat up, and the Chai kiln, as the top of the "Five Famous Kilns", has immeasurable future value.

Conclusion

This Song Dynasty wood kiln yellow glazed melon edged square vase embodies the highest achievement of Song Dynasty porcelain with rare glaze, exquisite shape, and timeless charm. It is not only a witness to history, but also an eternal carrier of art. For collectors, owning a genuine Chai kiln item is like having an aesthetic dialogue that spans thousands of years and an irreplaceable cultural heritage.