Catalog: Antiques: Regional Art: Asian: Chinese: Porcelain: Monochrome: Mirror Black (1)

It was not until the Qing dynasty that the Jingdezhen potters finally mastered the production of this very difficult bright black enamel glaze. Unfortunately, these vases were frequently fired a third time overpainted with intricate gold enamel patterns, but the plain monochromes are much more achieved. The very elegant form of this vase with its long neck and compressed body derived ultimately from Han bronze models, and became especially popular in Qianlong times...