A Superb and Rare Porcelain Masterpiece

A stunning example of Qianlong-era porcelain is due to be sold in the upcoming Imperial Porcelain - A Private Collection sale on 6 November. This unique and delicate vase is a rare find, as a monochrome celadon vessel from this period (1736-1795) with extremely sophisticated carving.

It’s a spectacularly elegant piece, with a baluster body that elegantly sweeps up to an angular shoulder with tall, slender neck and flared rim, but it is the decoration that really makes it stand out. Undulating peony scrolls, lappet and keyfret borders and ruyi pendants make a subtle but impactful statement, accentuated by the exquisite translucent bluish-green colour glaze.

Drawing on and reinterpreting the celebrated ceramic tradition of Longquan in Zhejiang province, the restrained decoration, silhouette and incised mark all suggest it was made in the early years of the Qianlong reign, before designs became overtly elaborate.

The luxuriant peony scroll on this piece, which is particularly crisp in its rendering, was adapted from the somewhat rough and rustic designs on Longquan celadons of the Yuan (1279-1368) and Ming (1368-1644) dynasties. By adding tall lappets at the neck, precisely carved ruyi heads at the shoulder and covering the vase with a subtle and elegant pale-celadon glaze, the craftsman has skilfully reinterpreted the original Longquan peony design into the refined decorative language preferred by the Qianlong Emperor.

Celadon-glazed wares are perhaps the type of ceramics most intimately associated with China; their origins can be traced back to the Bronze Age, and since then they continued to be popular throughout the Chinese empire. The brilliant bluish-celadon glazes created at the Longquan kilns had provided much inspiration to the potters of the Jingdezhen imperial kilns since the early Ming dynasty (1368-1644).

By lessening the amount of iron in the glaze the Jingdezhen potters were able to create a cool and delicate celadon glaze that, when applied on a white porcelain body, resembled the translucency and texture of jade as in this example. When applied to finely carved pieces, as on this vase, the thinning and pooling of the glaze on the raised lines and the recesses create a very delicate shaded effect and accentuate the crispness of the design.

The imperial kilns at Jingdezhen were then under the direction of China’s most famous superintendent, Tang Ying (1682-1756), who strove for technical perfection. Tang’s exposure to the imperial art collections while employed by the Imperial Household Department in his youth, allowed him to study in detail the finest antique ceramics of the Song and Ming periods, which he aligned to the personal taste of the Yongzheng and later the Qianlong emperor.

Such graceful examples of Qianlong vases are rare although this particular piece does share similarities in design, shape and glaze, with some of the finest known celadon-glazed wares made in this period. Overall, it is a very special piece that demonstrates both the artistic and technical virtuosity of the Jingdezhen potters, and the splendid taste of the Qing court.

Past Auction

Imperial Porcelain - A Private Collection

6 November 2019 | 10:30 AM GMT | London