![Longquan celadons from Song Dynasty exhibited at Musée Guimet, Paris](https://image.jimcdn.com/app/cms/image/transf/dimension=435x1024:format=jpg/path/sf5512e11b71aafd8/image/i4e899f57226919f1/version/1531333981/image.jpg)
Over the centuries Chinese ceramics have been developed in a wide variety of shapes and styles. From the Neolithic to the Qing dynasty the evolution has never stopped adapting styles and tastes of other cultures. There are around 20 basic shapes of Chinese vases. Some of them took influence of Persian metal wares and some of them of nomadic lifestyles. Many classical and timeless designs have their beginnings under the Tang and Song dynasty.
In this blog I'm going to introduce you the shapes and forms of Chinese ceramics. First of all I'm going to show you all basic shapes of vases which were produced
very often through all dynasties in Chinese history. In the following months I'm going to talk about the shapes of other types and their evolution through Chinese history. Because the shape and
form are the key of authentication.
The Shapes Of Vases
![Er ping; Amphora (Tang dynasty)](https://image.jimcdn.com/app/cms/image/transf/dimension=197x10000:format=jpg/path/sf5512e11b71aafd8/image/i83ca83dfc4efc80f/version/1530889397/image.jpg)
![Changjing ping; 'Long-neck' vase (Longquan ware, Song dynasty)](https://image.jimcdn.com/app/cms/image/transf/dimension=197x10000:format=jpg/path/sf5512e11b71aafd8/image/i36cc28d6c97e8de1/version/1530822909/image.jpg)
![Zhichui ping; 'Mallet-shaped' vase (Guan ware, Song dynasty)](https://image.jimcdn.com/app/cms/image/transf/dimension=197x10000:format=jpg/path/sf5512e11b71aafd8/image/i07235f39871c4305/version/1530889990/image.jpg)
![Mei ping; 'Plum' vase (Cizhou ware, Song dynasty)](https://image.jimcdn.com/app/cms/image/transf/dimension=197x10000:format=jpg/path/sf5512e11b71aafd8/image/i3c12c855d80634d3/version/1530907592/image.jpg)
![Yuhuchun ping; 'Pear-shaped' vase (Cizhou ware, Song dynasty)](https://image.jimcdn.com/app/cms/image/transf/dimension=197x10000:format=jpg/path/sf5512e11b71aafd8/image/id355a1869aa4f86c/version/1530890142/image.jpg)
![Cong; 'Cong-shaped' vase (Longquan ware, Song dynasty)](https://image.jimcdn.com/app/cms/image/transf/dimension=197x10000:format=jpg/path/sf5512e11b71aafd8/image/i460ff2512ca6c273/version/1530891111/image.jpg)
![Hulu ping; 'Double-gourd' vase (Ming dynasty)](https://image.jimcdn.com/app/cms/image/transf/dimension=197x10000:format=jpg/path/sf5512e11b71aafd8/image/i811c7fcd529dbb02/version/1530890886/image.jpg)
![Gu; 'Beaker' vase; 'Flaring' vase (Longquan ware, Yuan dynasty)](https://image.jimcdn.com/app/cms/image/transf/dimension=197x10000:format=jpg/path/sf5512e11b71aafd8/image/i6285852154852f17/version/1530907603/image.jpg)
![Tou hu; 'Arrow' vase (Guan ware, Song dynasty)](https://image.jimcdn.com/app/cms/image/transf/dimension=197x10000:format=jpg/path/sf5512e11b71aafd8/image/i9545c46e1a332ea7/version/1530896381/image.jpg)
![Haitang zun; 'Begonia-shaped' vase (Qing dynasty)](https://image.jimcdn.com/app/cms/image/transf/dimension=197x10000:format=jpg/path/sf5512e11b71aafd8/image/i30dd37989eff02b0/version/1531256027/image.jpg)
![Shiliu zun; 'Pomegranate' vase (Qing dynasty)](https://image.jimcdn.com/app/cms/image/transf/dimension=197x10000:format=jpg/path/sf5512e11b71aafd8/image/ic38b1e82642891d5/version/1530896896/image.jpg)
![Bailu zun; 'Hundred deer' vase (Qing dynasty)](https://image.jimcdn.com/app/cms/image/transf/dimension=197x10000:format=jpg/path/sf5512e11b71aafd8/image/i06884913d85d98c2/version/1530907613/image.jpg)
![Suantou ping; 'Garlic-head' vase (Qing dynasty)](https://image.jimcdn.com/app/cms/image/transf/dimension=197x10000:format=jpg/path/sf5512e11b71aafd8/image/i7c0fefa8664fa34c/version/1530892552/image.jpg)
![Fengwei zun; Yenyen vase (Longquan ware, Yuan dynasty)](https://image.jimcdn.com/app/cms/image/transf/dimension=197x10000:format=jpg/path/sf5512e11b71aafd8/image/i3319079c08b4b5a9/version/1530891472/image.jpg)
![Baoyue ping; 'Moonflask'; 'Pilgrim' flask (Ming dynasty)](https://image.jimcdn.com/app/cms/image/transf/dimension=197x10000:format=jpg/path/sf5512e11b71aafd8/image/i264e0948b33f94b6/version/1530892275/image.jpg)
![Wukou ping; 'Five-spouted' jar (Longquan ware, Song dynasty)](https://image.jimcdn.com/app/cms/image/transf/dimension=197x10000:format=jpg/path/sf5512e11b71aafd8/image/ieac0e3bf9eac3502/version/1530896041/image.jpg)
![Hu; 'Hu-shaped' vase (Qing dynasty)](https://image.jimcdn.com/app/cms/image/transf/dimension=197x10000:format=jpg/path/sf5512e11b71aafd8/image/ibcdf1e8ec2ca3eb3/version/1530892865/image.jpg)
![Tong ping; 'Sleeve' vase (Transitional period)](https://image.jimcdn.com/app/cms/image/transf/dimension=197x10000:format=jpg/path/sf5512e11b71aafd8/image/i36b78250db76dc6d/version/1530893304/image.jpg)
![Bangchui ping; 'Rouleau' vase (Qing dynasty)](https://image.jimcdn.com/app/cms/image/transf/dimension=197x10000:format=jpg/path/sf5512e11b71aafd8/image/i2017b267ba3e72f7/version/1530893474/image.jpg)
![Tianqiu ping; 'Globular' vase (Qing dynasty)](https://image.jimcdn.com/app/cms/image/transf/dimension=197x10000:format=jpg/path/sf5512e11b71aafd8/image/i957796b910a937e5/version/1530907624/image.jpg)
![Liuye ping; 'Willow leaf' vase (Qing dynasty)](https://image.jimcdn.com/app/cms/image/transf/dimension=197x10000:format=jpg/path/sf5512e11b71aafd8/image/i1302c14d27c9dbcf/version/1530894420/image.jpg)
![Yaoling zun; 'Mallet-shaped' vase (Qing dynasty)](https://image.jimcdn.com/app/cms/image/transf/dimension=197x10000:format=jpg/path/sf5512e11b71aafd8/image/ia5e83bd420d68249/version/1530894750/image.jpg)
![Guanyin zun; 'Baluster' vase (Qing dynasty)](https://image.jimcdn.com/app/cms/image/transf/dimension=197x10000:format=jpg/path/sf5512e11b71aafd8/image/i894ff0e67b420a72/version/1530895595/image.jpg)
![Dan ping; 'Gallbladder-shaped' vase (Qing dynasty)](https://image.jimcdn.com/app/cms/image/transf/dimension=197x10000:format=jpg/path/sf5512e11b71aafd8/image/if7636203f790a7e7/version/1530907635/image.jpg)
![Denglong ping; 'Lantern' vase (Qing dynasty)](https://image.jimcdn.com/app/cms/image/transf/dimension=197x10000:format=jpg/path/sf5512e11b71aafd8/image/i92c874524eaa816d/version/1530897280/image.jpg)
!['Double-gourd' vase (Qing dynasty)](https://image.jimcdn.com/app/cms/image/transf/dimension=197x10000:format=jpg/path/sf5512e11b71aafd8/image/i193842355abc5e22/version/1530903930/image.jpg)
![Shuanglian ping; 'Double' vase (Qing dynasty)](https://image.jimcdn.com/app/cms/image/transf/dimension=197x10000:format=jpg/path/sf5512e11b71aafd8/image/ia54f7e1562374158/version/1530903994/image.jpg)
![Biqi ping; 'Pear-shaped' vase (Qing dynasty)](https://image.jimcdn.com/app/cms/image/transf/dimension=197x10000:format=jpg/path/sf5512e11b71aafd8/image/i689bef303f526cab/version/1530907645/image.jpg)
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