以蓮花(hua)或蓮瓣作(zuo)為(wei)(wei)器(qi)(qi)(qi)物之(zhi)紋(wen)飾及造型(xing),隨佛教(jiao)之(zhi)傳入而盛行,爾后(hou)更取其出泥不(bu)染之(zhi)習性,寓(yu)意廉潔(jie),廣為(wei)(wei)各類器(qi)(qi)(qi)所采(cai)用。該器(qi)(qi)(qi)狀似未盛開蓮花(hua),線條溫柔(rou)婉約,高雅清麗(li)。原器(qi)(qi)(qi)應與一執壺(hu)配套(tao),為(wei)(wei)一溫酒用器(qi)(qi)(qi),晚唐至(zhi)宋所常見。
汝窯(yao)曾為(wei)宮中用器,因采覆(fu)燒的方式,故(gu)口有缺(que)陷(xian),因而有“宮中命汝州燒造(zao)(zao)青(qing)瓷(ci)”之(zhi)(zhi)舉,汝窯(yao)之(zhi)(zhi)入選,支(zhi)(zhi)燒滿釉(you)應是原(yuan)因之(zhi)(zhi)一。支(zhi)(zhi)燒另一用處(chu)為(wei)防止器底塌陷(xian),汝窯(yao)所用支(zhi)(zhi)釘細小,所留(liu)釘痕狀似芝麻(ma)(ma),器底五支(zhi)(zhi)釘痕即是,也就是俗稱的“芝麻(ma)(ma)釘”。釉(you)面細碎紋路(lu),更有“蟹爪(zhua)痕”之(zhi)(zhi)美名。 蓮(lian)花溫(wen)碗,以其典雅造(zao)(zao)型,溫(wen)柔不透明釉(you)色,在傳世(shi)不多(duo)之(zhi)(zhi)汝窯(yao)器中,更顯珍貴。
汝(ru)(ru)窯(yao)是(shi)宋代“五大(da)名(ming)窯(yao)”之(zhi)一(yi),為(wei)冠絕古今之(zhi)中國瓷(ci)器(qi)(qi)名(ming)窯(yao)。窯(yao)址(zhi)在(zai)今河南省(sheng)寶豐縣清涼寺及汝(ru)(ru)州(zhou)(zhou)文廟張公巷附近,宋時屬汝(ru)(ru)州(zhou)(zhou),故(gu)名(ming)。汝(ru)(ru)窯(yao)以燒制(zhi)青(qing)(qing)釉瓷(ci)器(qi)(qi)著(zhu)稱,宋人葉(xie)寘在(zai)《坦齋筆(bi)衡》中記載:“本(ben)朝以定州(zhou)(zhou)白瓷(ci)器(qi)(qi)有(you)芒不堪用,遂命(ming)汝(ru)(ru)州(zhou)(zhou)造(zao)青(qing)(qing)窯(yao)器(qi)(qi),故(gu)河北(bei)唐(tang)、鄧、耀州(zhou)(zhou)悉有(you)之(zhi),汝(ru)(ru)州(zhou)(zhou)為(wei)魁。”可見汝(ru)(ru)窯(yao)是(shi)繼(ji)定窯(yao)之(zhi)后為(wei)宮(gong)廷(ting)燒制(zhi)貢(gong)瓷(ci)的窯(yao)場。其器(qi)(qi)物多仿青(qing)(qing)銅器(qi)(qi)及玉器(qi)(qi)造(zao)型,主要有(you)出戟尊、玉壺春瓶、膽式瓶、樽(zun)、洗。胎體細潔如香灰色,多為(wei)裹足支燒,器(qi)(qi)物底部(bu)留有(you)細小(xiao)的支釘(ding)痕跡。釉色主要有(you)天青(qing)(qing)、天藍、淡粉(fen)、粉(fen)青(qing)(qing)、月白等,釉層薄(bo)而(er)瑩潤,釉泡大(da)而(er)稀疏,有(you)“寥若晨星(xing)”之(zhi)稱。釉面有(you)細小(xiao)的紋(wen)(wen)片,稱為(wei)“蟹爪紋(wen)(wen)”。汝(ru)(ru)窯(yao)燒宮(gong)廷(ting)用瓷(ci)的時間(jian)僅20年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)左右,約(yue)在(zai)北(bei)宋哲宗(zong)元祐(you)元年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1086年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))到徽宗(zong)崇(chong)寧五年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1106年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),故(gu)傳世品極少,被人們(men)視為(wei)稀世之(zhi)珍。