Antique Chinese Cizhou Wine Jar

This Antique Chinese Cizhou Wine Jar is more than a vessel, it's a tangible fragment of Chinese domestic life from centuries past. Originating from the Cizhou kilns of Northern China, these jars were traditionally used for storing and fermenting rice wine, vinegar, or soy. Durable, humble, and strikingly beautiful, they were prized by both peasants and scholars alike for their functionality and subtle artistry.

Dating as far back as the Song (960–1279) and Jin (1115–1234) dynasties, Cizhou wares were unique in that they were created for everyday use, yet richly decorated with hand-painted motifs using slip and iron-brown glazes.

The artwork etched onto this piece speaks volumes. The flying birds, possibly swallows or geese, represent seasonal change, harmony, and good fortune in Chinese culture. Their movement around the jar conveys a rhythmic, circular passage of time – a subtle nod to the fermentation process once taking place inside.

Whether styled in a light-filled hallway with dried foraged branches, as a statement piece on a console, or grouped with other antique vessels for a collected, global look, this Cizhou jar carries both presence and meaning.

Age: Unknown 80+ years

Dimensions (cm): TBC

Colour/Hue: Off White, Cream hues with brown/black artwrok

Material: Ceramic

Care Instructions: Wipe with a dry cloth

Original Use: Storing and fermenting rice wine, vinegar, or soy

Origin: Cizhou kilns of Northern China