Water pot ping guo zun

This apple-shaped water pot ping guo zun is a typical form from the Kangxi period. There are two subtypes: one without a neck and the other with a pressed-in short neck with its lower part below the shoulder. Since this neckless water pot has a small inverted mouth, it belongs to the first type. It was used to fetch water of store liquid. The surface is covered with a monochrome light apple-green glaze. This lip provides a good indication of how thick the glaze on this pot is because the inner rim of the lip has been left unglazed. There is a noticeable crackle when the pot is closely examined. The foot of the pot is not glazed; it is indented at the center of the bowl. A deeply impressed inscription on the base of the pot 'ko ming xiang zao' indicates that it was made by the ko ming xiang kiln. Most pots of this type are Official Wares, that bear a six-character mark in regular script and three vertical lines on the base. From the Ming period, its functions are classified as: vases for flowers, bottles for alcoholic beverages, and ornamental vases