Swatow Oil Jar With Wet Brush Calligraphy
August 2014 Auction by Far East Asian Art

An 18th century Chinese oil pitcher has a thick glaze decorated with blue calligraphy done in the loose, free "wet brush" manner. Collected for its spontaneity of design, Swatow ware with this type of calligraphy was made in South China and exported from the port of Swatow to countries throughout Southeast Asia. The cursive characters were applied with a very wet brush, depositing heavier, darker color at the ends of the strokes...