以(yi)蓮花或蓮瓣作為(wei)器物之(zhi)(zhi)紋飾及造型,隨佛教之(zhi)(zhi)傳(chuan)入而盛(sheng)行,爾后更取其出(chu)泥不染之(zhi)(zhi)習性(xing),寓意廉潔,廣為(wei)各類器所(suo)采(cai)用(yong)。該器狀似未盛(sheng)開蓮花,線條(tiao)溫柔(rou)婉約(yue),高雅清麗。原器應與一執壺配套,為(wei)一溫酒用(yong)器,晚唐至(zhi)宋所(suo)常見。
汝(ru)(ru)窯(yao)(yao)(yao)曾為宮中用器(qi),因采(cai)覆(fu)燒(shao)(shao)的方式,故(gu)口有(you)缺陷,因而(er)有(you)“宮中命汝(ru)(ru)州燒(shao)(shao)造青(qing)瓷(ci)”之(zhi)舉,汝(ru)(ru)窯(yao)(yao)(yao)之(zhi)入選,支燒(shao)(shao)滿(man)釉(you)(you)應是原(yuan)因之(zhi)一(yi)。支燒(shao)(shao)另一(yi)用處(chu)為防止器(qi)底塌陷,汝(ru)(ru)窯(yao)(yao)(yao)所用支釘(ding)細小,所留釘(ding)痕狀似(si)芝麻,器(qi)底五支釘(ding)痕即是,也(ye)就是俗稱的“芝麻釘(ding)”。釉(you)(you)面(mian)細碎紋路,更有(you)“蟹爪(zhua)痕”之(zhi)美名。 蓮花(hua)溫(wen)碗(wan),以其(qi)典雅(ya)造型(xing),溫(wen)柔不(bu)透明釉(you)(you)色,在傳世不(bu)多之(zhi)汝(ru)(ru)窯(yao)(yao)(yao)器(qi)中,更顯珍貴(gui)。
汝窯(yao)(yao)是(shi)宋代“五大(da)名窯(yao)(yao)”之(zhi)一,為冠絕古今之(zhi)中國瓷器(qi)名窯(yao)(yao)。窯(yao)(yao)址(zhi)在今河南省(sheng)寶豐縣清(qing)涼寺及汝州(zhou)文廟張公巷附近,宋時屬汝州(zhou),故(gu)名。汝窯(yao)(yao)以燒制青(qing)(qing)釉(you)(you)(you)(you)瓷器(qi)著稱,宋人(ren)葉寘在《坦齋筆衡》中記載:“本(ben)朝以定州(zhou)白瓷器(qi)有(you)(you)芒不(bu)堪用(yong),遂命汝州(zhou)造(zao)青(qing)(qing)窯(yao)(yao)器(qi),故(gu)河北唐、鄧、耀州(zhou)悉有(you)(you)之(zhi),汝州(zhou)為魁。”可(ke)見汝窯(yao)(yao)是(shi)繼定窯(yao)(yao)之(zhi)后為宮廷(ting)燒制貢瓷的窯(yao)(yao)場。其器(qi)物多仿青(qing)(qing)銅器(qi)及玉器(qi)造(zao)型,主(zhu)要(yao)有(you)(you)出戟(ji)尊(zun)、玉壺春瓶、膽式(shi)瓶、樽、洗。胎體細(xi)潔如香灰色,多為裹足支燒,器(qi)物底(di)部留有(you)(you)細(xi)小的支釘痕跡。釉(you)(you)(you)(you)色主(zhu)要(yao)有(you)(you)天(tian)青(qing)(qing)、天(tian)藍、淡粉、粉青(qing)(qing)、月白等,釉(you)(you)(you)(you)層薄而瑩潤,釉(you)(you)(you)(you)泡(pao)大(da)而稀(xi)疏,有(you)(you)“寥若晨(chen)星”之(zhi)稱。釉(you)(you)(you)(you)面(mian)有(you)(you)細(xi)小的紋片(pian),稱為“蟹爪紋”。汝窯(yao)(yao)燒宮廷(ting)用(yong)瓷的時間僅20年(nian)左右,約(yue)在北宋哲宗元(yuan)祐元(yuan)年(nian)(1086年(nian))到徽宗崇(chong)寧五年(nian)(1106年(nian)),故(gu)傳世品極少(shao),被(bei)人(ren)們視為稀(xi)世之(zhi)珍。