Meip’ing vase with underglaze-blue decoration of clouds and dragon

Ming dynasty(1644-1911)
Unmarked
Height: 34.6 cm
Mouth Diameter: 7 cm
Bottom Diameter: 15.1 cm
Weight: 3610 g

Small curl mouth, short neck, abundant shoulder, narrowed body, shallow foot ring, and delicate sand bottom constructed a vase with decoration of dragon, cross cloud, billows, mountain, and so on. The underglaze-blue dragon showed vigorousness and vividness among raging waves. There were also gorgeous underglaze-blue color and natural iron rust spots with silver reflection. The firm and white clay showed sleekness and moist on ware bottom.

Flask with four handles and underglaze-blue decoration of flower, dragon, and phoenix

Ming dynasty (1644-1911)
Unmarked
Height: 40 cm
Mouth Diameter: 7.1 cm
Bottom Diameter: 26.2 cm
Weight: 6865 g

Small mouth, curve lips, and flat rectangle body constructed a typical flask with four handles in Yuan dynasty. Natural and bold decoration performed two dragons in pursuit of pearl, chrysanthemum scrolls, double phoenixes, billows, clouds and others on ware body. Powerful and vivid dragon showed sharp three claws. Grayish underglaze-blue color presented light tone and brown iron rust spots at thick pigment area. Besides, the ware displayed bluish white glaze, loose clay, and black iron spots.

Stem bowl with underglaze-blue decoration of double phoenixes among lotus

Ming dynasty(1644-1911),

Xuan-de reign mark.

Height：12.9 cm

Mouth Diameter：9.8 cm

Bottom Diameter：5 cm

Weight：195 g

This exterior stem bowl with flared rim and cannular bottom was painted with two phoenixes among lotus scrolls and “Hui” decoration by imported pigment. In the center of inner bowl, there was six-character script of Da Ming Xuan De Nian Zhi (made in the reign of Xuan-de in Ming dynasty) surrounded by two rings. Dense underglaze-blue color contained many blackish and greenish brown spots at diffused area. There were visible air bubbles and pinholes on white glaze. Flint-red marks in light Chinese red presented at the area of unglazed clay that was exquisite white.

Pair bowls with famille rose decoration of flowers

Yong-zheng reign of Qing dynasty (1723-1735)
Remark: underglaze-blue regular script -Da-qing-yong-zheng-nian-zhi
(made in Yong-zheng reign of Qing dynasty)

Height：6/5.9cm

Mouth Diameter：10.3/10.1 cm

Bottom Diameter：4.4/4.3 cm

Weight：115/120g

Arc mouth, deep belly and foot ring composed a pair of bowl whose exterior wall was beautified with China rose of three colors. The China roses are in bud or blooming with small thorns in stem. Interior bowl bottom was decorated with some small fruits which are exquisite and lovely. This bow possessed heavy shape and also called “Dun-shi Bowl”.

Pure white glaze reflected light bluish white by the light. Delicate clay showed sleek touch in unglazed foot ring area. The external bowl bottom was written with six Chinese characters, Da-qing-yong-zheng-nian-zhi, in the center of two rings. Porcelains with famille rose decoration from Yong-zheng reign regarded for elegant contour, graceful color, and changeful posture of petals and leaves.

Covered meip’ing vase with underglaze-blue decoration of clouds and dragon

Yuan dynasty (1279-1368)

Unmarked

Height：14.3 cm

Mouth Diameter：55 cm

Bottom Diameter：17.7 cm

Weight：4310 g

Small mouth, rich shoulder, and slender waist constructed an elegant and animated vase with covered lid of bud handle. The covered lid was painted with decoration of Ruyi clouds and the body was decorated with a dragon roaming amongst cloud. The dragon demonstrated mighty, bold, and lifelike image. This vase had features of clear white glaze, slightly grayish blue, irregular iron rust spots, and penetrating spots of blue.

Foliated bowl with underglaze-red decoration of dragon

Ming dynasty(1644-1911)

Unmarked

Height：9.9cm

Mouth Diameter：20.5cm

Bottom Diameter：8.6 cm

Weight：630 g

The bowl had characteristics of arc mouth, deep curve wall, and foliated contour. It was shaped by pressing mold after throwing the clay. The outer wall was decorated with dragon amongst clouds. The mouth and foot ring were decorated with eight red lines. The center of interior bowl was adorned with two layers of cloud. Bluish white glaze showed thick glaze and tiny air holes at thick glazed area. Exquisite clay presented high level of vitrification and clear whiteness.

Covered Meip’ing vase with underglaze red decoration of pine, bamboo, and plum

Ming dynasty(1644-1911)

Unmarked

Height：43.9cm

Mouth Diameter：6.1 cm

Bottom Diameter：12.9 cm

Weight：3805 g

This vase consisted of small mouth, round shoulder, foot ring, and cover with design of bud that contains a straight tube in the interior center. The bud button was painted with decoration of lotus petal and the outer lid was painted with diamond shapes and peony sprays. From top to bottom, the vase was adorned with plantain leaves, leaf scrolls, chrysanthemum scrolls, pine tree, bamboo and plum blossom, billows, and lotus petals. The underglaze red showed blackish red and partial vanished lines, but presented pure color and distinct feature. Moist glaze displayed bluish tone and grayish white clay contained some impurities. This ware with heavy clay showed exquisite touch.

Jar with underglaze-blue illustration of emperor Tang Tai-zong

Yuan dynasty (1279-1368), Gao-an kiln, Unmarked

Height：29.8 cm

Mouth Diameter：19.3 cm
Bottom Diameter：18.6 cm

Weight：6260 g

This jar features an erect neck, handsome shoulder, round belly, and flared foot. Its ware form came from combining two separately shaped parts together. This was a classic example of vessels produced in Yuan dynasty. Below the neck with billows decoration, there is decoration of Chinese historical story from Tang dynasty (618-907) on the body that was complemented by various stones, flowers, plantain foliage, and so on. Transparent white glaze with a tinge of blue conveys a glittering sensation.