Song Dynasty Miniature Bronze Jarlet

Southern Song Dynasty, 1127–1275 AD, China

A delicate and finely cast bronze miniature jarlet featuring gently sloping shoulders, a slightly compressed globular body, and a narrow neck with a thin, subtly everted rim. The vessel rests gracefully on a shallow ring base, its surface exhibiting a soft, aged patina that enhances its quiet elegance.

While ceramics dominate the artistic legacy of the Song Dynasty, this rare bronze example reflects the same aesthetic ideals that defined Song artistry—refinement of form, balance, and understated sophistication. During the Southern Song period, artists and craftsmen turned toward smaller, contemplative works that mirrored the era’s introspective and poetic spirit. The jarlet’s minimal silhouette and harmonious proportions capture this refined sensibility, embodying the timeless elegance and contemplative beauty that came to define Song culture.

Excellent condition. Minor surface wear, dents and abrasions consistent with age. Attractive encrusted patina and rich earthen deposits across the surface. Size approx. 3,9cm x 4,9cm x 4,9cm.

Provenance: Danish private collection

References and further reading:

Song to Yuan dynasties 960–1350, National Palace Museum, Taipei.(https://www.npm.edu.tw/exh99/ceramics/en/page-3.html#main)

The Enchantment of Song, Ying Jang & Annika Waenerberg, 2002, Academia.(https://www.academia.edu/10582197/The_Enchantment_of_Song)