$350.00
This globe-shaped vase is decorated overall in gilt enamel in a floral pattern. It is raised on a low footring and glazed white on the base. Both the foot and mouth rim are unglazed, exposing the fine white porcelain paste. The interior is covered in a clear glaze. It is in good condition, with no damage, however it leans somewhat to one side and has the expected rubbing to the softer gold enamel decoration.
Height: 2 7/8 in., Diameter: 3 in.
$175.00
This bowl is glazed in white overall except for the foot and base, save for a small bit of glaze on the base. The fine, white porcelain paste is exposed on the base.
Diameter: 4 ½ in., Height: 2 in.
SOLD
This rare cylindrical vessel has visible rings on the exterior from the potting intended to imitate a section of bamboo. The rich, raspberry-toned glaze stops evenly just above the well-cut footring. The exposed paste is smooth and white with even wear from years of use. The base is glazed white; it is finely crackled and naturally stained from use and time. A line of pale orange re-oxidation encircles the interior and exterior of the footring where the glaze stops. There is a pale streak running through the glaze along with a pale splash on one side. The interior and rim are glazed white with a pale bluish tinge and the top of the rim is very slightly grooved, which is typical of early 18th Century porcelain brushpots. There are two cracks from the firing that are visible on the interior along with a small, shallow associated chip to the rim. The frosty appearance toward the bottom on the sides is due to reflections in the photography. From a private collection in Baltimore, MD.
Height: 4 5/8 in., Diameter: 2 ¾ in.
SOLD
This small mountain peak-form scholar's brush rest is molded with a wave design of scrolls, flowers and ribbons on the concave side. This side is also splashed randomly with underglaze cobalt blue. The base is flat and underglazed, now with dark soiling. The entirety is hollow and a small hole is visible to allow for air escape during the firing. It shows minor wear from use and is in overall very good condition, with no cracks, chips or repairs.
Height: 2 1/8 in., Length: 3 ¼ in.
SOLD
The decoration is executed entirely in overglaze blue enamel depicting various personal seal marks (chops). The enamel is thickly applied and well-painted. The border is encircled by a fretwork design in the same thick, blue enamel. The area immediately surrounding the enamel decorations exhibits a halo effect when carefully viewed at an angle to the light—a detail often noted on 18th century porcelains with this type of blue enamel. The rare design of seal marks relates to items made for scholars’ use and this dish was possibly intended to be a brush washer for use in an artist’s studio. The minyao mark, not written to imperial specifications, indicates this item was not produced by imperial command; however, the porcelain paste is consistent with 18th century Qianlong material. Good condition, no damages or repairs.
Height: 1 1/8 in.; Diameter: 6 1/8 in.
SOLD
This bowl is very well-painted in overglaze enamels with the nine ripe peaches showing gradations of color from yellowish-green to deep rose-red on each. The peach leaves are enameled in two tones of green. Contrasting with this colorful pallet is the tree trunk which is well-rendered in tones of brownish grey. The bowl is covered overall in a clear glaze that stops evenly at the foot, exposing the fine white porcelain paste on the footring. There is a hairline crack that extends vertically from the lip down the side for about 2.5 inches. There are a number of very tine nicks on the rim, which was originally gilded but most of the gold has now worn off. The interior has a very small glaze pits from the firing. No repairs or restorations.
Diameter: 7 ¾ in., Height: 3 in.
SOLD
This lidded jar is painted with two lion dogs frolicking among peony flowers, all on an imperial yellow ground. The lid is similarly decorated with a single peony bloom. Both the interiors of the jar and lid are unglazed showing the fine white paste. The inset base is covered in a thin clear glaze with an incised double ring. The footring is unglazed and there is minor soiling to it and to the interior of the jar. The condition is good, without damage or restoration.
Height: 7 5/8 in., Width: 6 in.
SOLD
Small, globular form brushwasher thinly potted and fits comfortably in the hand. Covered inside and outside with a smooth, even clear glaze stopping just short of the narrow, exposed footring that reveals the white porcelain paste. One side is painted in several colors of overglaze enamels depicting a floral arbor. The other side is decorated with three tiny stylized bats. The base is slightly recessed, glazed and has an iron-red enamel six-character Qianlong sealmark.
Height: 2 7/8 in.; Diameter: 3 ¼ in.
$3,200.00
This vase is painted in green, yellow, turquoise and black enamel on a pale aubergine background, depicting various dignitary figures in a garden setting. The interior is fully glazed white, having some minor pitting and small iron specks in the glaze. The base is unglazed with areas of light orange re-oxidation from the firing, and the fine white paste is visible around the perimeter. There is a spurious Zhengde mark in black enamel on the shoulder. Overall, the condition is very good having only some general soiling from age and use. There are no repairs or restorations. Acquired from a private collection in the early 1990s.
Height: 14 1/2 in., Width: 8 ½ in.
SOLD
This tall baluster vase is glazed in deep oxblood red that is suffused all around with patches of pale blue ranging to lavender and purple. The overall effect is somewhat reminiscent of a landscape painting. As a lamp, it retains its original brass fittings, but one socket is an old replacement. The wiring is intact and the lamp still functions. The condition of the porcelain overall is very good, though the base was drilled in the lamp-making process.
Height of vase: 16 in., Diameter: 7 ¾ in.
SOLD
Some light-brown stained crazing to the interior, otherwise good condition. Acquired in Hong Kong in the 1960s.
Height: 2 ¼ in.; Diameter: 13 ¼ in.
$750.00
This bowl is decorated in underglaze cobalt blue with a stylized design of two birds perched on a sprig of flowers and encircled by stems covered in little round buds, giving the design an abstract quality. The base is unglazed and shows the characteristic chatter marks from the trimming, often seen on Tianqi wares. The footring is unglazed with numerous sand grains adhering. The outer sides have two hastily drawn circles and X's. There is considerable rim fritting as seen on most porcelains of this period. There is a small rim chip, also. It was probably shipped to Japan for use in the Japanese tea ceremony, shortly after it was made. Tianqi porcelains were in high demand among tea ceremony practitioners, even in the 1970s, when this piece was acquired.
Height: 2 in., Diameter: 6 1/8 in.
SOLD
Elegant pear-form vase with a gracefully tapering neck is raised on an elongated and subtly flaring foot. It is covered overall in a medium-blue robin’s egg-type glaze mottled with lighter and darker blues that drains toward the foot with violet-toned mottling. The base and interior are both glazed with a clear glaze that is tightly cracked. The footring is unglazed exposing the buff-colored china-like soft paste porcelain. Though similar to the robin’s egg glaze seen on hard porcelain, the glaze on this vase appears softer and more blurred, probably as a result of using a different clay body and firing temperature. There is a tiny restored glaze flake at the foot about 3/16 in. in diameter. There are some very small glaze separations as a result of the firing leaving a few buff-toned dots. Otherwise, it is in very good condition with no cracks or breaks.
Height: 9 ½ in.; Width: 5 ¼ in.
$1,200.00
This small but well-proportioned guan-form jar with broad shoulder tapering to a narrow base is stoutly potted as were many such late Yuan porcelains intended for export to Southeast Asia and the Philippines. This piece is decorated in the classic Yuan format of horizontal registers of primary and secondary designs; the largest register having the chrysanthemum scroll painting with the upper register around the neck displaying the often-seen classic scroll and the base with a band of downward pointing petals. The cobalt is of a grayish-blue tone suggesting that of a native Chinese source perhaps mixed with Persian cobalt. The painting, though rapid, is that of a practiced hand, and the blue has a heaped and piled effect with blackish speckles in the cobalt blue—all characteristics of blue and white porcelains of this period. The clear glaze is fairly even and lustrous with a bluish tinge. The base and footring are unglazed and three finger marks remain on the exterior base where the piece was held for dipping in the glaze. The footring is flat and beveled on the outer edge where the excess glaze was trimmed off before firing. The interior is unglazed. There are a few iron specks and pin pricks and pinholes resulting from the firing. There is a small firing flaw about 1/8 in. in diameter where a bubble in the clay erupted in the firing process. The overall condition is good. The imperfections are all characteristics of early blue and white wares of the Yuan dynasty.
Height: 3 ½ in.; Diameter: 4 in.
SOLD
The lid is decorated in underglaze cobalt blue with a depiction of Liu Bing, the founder of the Han Dynasty, attacking a snake, which was considered to be an omen predicting the founding of the Han Dynasty. This particular scene, probably from a woodblock printed book illustration, is seen from time to time on Shunzhi Period – early Kangxi transitional wares. The base is glazed and displays the classic six-character Kangxi mark. The paste is exposed on the footring and is textured of buff-colored China clay, consistent of soft paste porcelain. The clear glaze has an overall crackle, also consistent with soft paste porcelain wares. Very good condition with moderate wear and no damage.
Diameter: 3 ½ in., Height: 1 3/8 in.
SOLD
This vase is decorated in overglaze enamels over an imperial yellow enamel ground. The base has an apocryphal six-character Kangxi mark in underglaze blue. Two stylized handles glazed in coral enamel decorate the neck. The base and interior are glazed white. The footring is unglazed. It is in good condition. Acquired from the collection of Evangeline Johnson of the Robert Wood Johnson family.
Height: 14 ½ in., Width: 11 in.
SOLD
The black enameled background provides a striking contrast with the colorful flowers in brilliant shaded enamels. Lilies, chrysanthemums, peonies, iris, and other blossoms cover the entire exterior of the bowl, even the entire exterior of the foot down to the footring. The interior is glazed white and left undecorated, further enhancing the contrasting effect of the exterior and interior. The base is glazed white and displays a four-character Qianlong mark in iron-red overglaze enamel. Good condition, no repairs or restorations.
Height: 2 ½ in.; Diameter: 6 ¼ in.
SOLD
This circular box is well-carved with cranes and clouds in low relief on the lid and covered with an even, sea-green, translucent celadon glaze that highlights the carving. The bottom half of the box is incised with lines radiating from the base and representing the petals of a chrysanthemum flower. The base is glazed and the footring is unglazed exposing the white paste – somewhat soiled with use. The interior of the base and lid is also glazed with an even sea-green celadon tone. There is a minute nick on the interior rim of the bottom half of the box. There is some wear and soiling from use. Generally very good condition. Acquired at auction ca. 1985
Diameter: 3 3/8 in., Height: 1 ½ in.