{"product_id":"grand-vase-balustre-porcelaine-chinoise-cent-enfants-1885","title":"Large Chinese porcelain baluster vase, \"Hundred Children\" decor, circa 1885","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eChina, Imperial Period, Guangxu Dynasty\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Work and its Dating\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eMeasuring 46 cm in height and 27 cm in diameter, this monumental baluster vase in Jingdezhen porcelain embodies the pinnacle of the technical revival at the end of the Qing Dynasty, under the reign of the Guangxu Emperor (1875-1908). The purity of its glaze, the use of a vibrant cobalt blue, and the presence of small dark rust-colored firing spots—known as \"iron spots\"—certainly situate the firing of this piece in a traditional wood-fired kiln at the end of the 19th century.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIconography\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eThe Poetry of Lotus Fishing and the Allegory of Familial Happiness\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eThe body of the vase unfolds a captivating fresco, entirely dedicated to the aquatic world and the theme of fishing children. Represented in pairs within polylobed cartouches, young boys wearing the traditional \"dudou\" (silk bib) amuse themselves in the midst of lively water, depicted by a superb accumulation of waves and concentric eddies. One of them proudly holds a fishing rod, while his companion brandishes a long lotus stalk whose generous leaf serves as a parasol.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eFor the high society of Qing-era China, this scene is a visual rebus of immense subtlety, directly linked to the great traditional theme of the \"Hundred Children\":\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe lotus (Lian) evokes continuity.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe act of fishing symbolizes the quest for abundance (Yu).\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe lotus pod laden with seeds (Lianzi) represents the wish for numerous offspring.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003eThus, this decor whispers a wish for fertility and material prosperity to the beholder: \u003cstrong\u003e\"May your lineage enjoy successive abundance, generation after generation.\"\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eThe stylistic coherence of the piece is total: the intermediate motifs and the domed lid eschew the usual terrestrial landscapes to represent charming shrimp painted amidst swaying algae. In Asia, the shrimp (Xia) is a homophone for laughter; it symbolizes the joy of living, good luck, and happy longevity. Suspended at its sides, the Buddhist endless knot (Panchang) seals this wish for eternity.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTHE OPINION OF GALERIE POPINCOURT\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\n\u003cdiv\u003eWhat makes this large baluster vase so rare is the perfect unity of its theme. Where the majority of Qing-period porcelains mix genres, this piece is a true poetic ode to river life and the banks of the Yangtze. The graphic design of the shrimp on the lid and the intermediate sections is incredibly fresh and modern. \u003cbr\u003eThe decorator knew how to captivate the eye by establishing a subtle dialogue between the dynamism of the fishing children and the serenity of the lotus. \u003cbr\u003eThe true luxury for a collector, however, lies in its state of preservation. Finding a piece of porcelain of this scale, having traversed more than a century of history without suffering the slightest hairline crack, a single chip on the neck, or any restoration to its original lid, is exceptional. The slight traces of ferrous oxidation in the material bear witness to the breath of the period's wood fire: they are to porcelain what patina is to bronze. A masterful piece, vibrant with history and universal gaiety.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\n\n\u003cstrong\u003eInformation\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin\u003c\/strong\u003e: China (Jingdezhen)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProvenance\u003c\/strong\u003e: Private collection, France\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTechnique: Underglaze cobalt blue on fine porcelain *\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDecor\u003c\/strong\u003e: Cartouches with fishing children, shrimp of joy (Xia), lotus buds, and endless knots\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions\u003c\/strong\u003e: \u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eHeight: 46 cm (with lid) (18.1 in) | Diameter: 27 cm (10.6 in)\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNet weight\u003c\/strong\u003e: 5.850 kg\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eState of preservation\u003c\/strong\u003e: Exceptional. No hairlines, no cracks, no chips. Original dark rust-colored firing spots under the glaze, attesting to its authenticity and its ancient wood-fired kiln origin.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e* Gallery note on the \"Underglaze Blue\" technique\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan\u003e This ancestral method consists of painting the decoration with cobalt pigment directly onto the raw clay. The work is then sealed under a layer of transparent varnish (the glaze) before being fired at a very high temperature. This process requires perfect control of the brush because mistakes are impossible, but it offers an immense privilege to the collector: the decoration, protected from the air and time by the glass of the enamel, is completely unalterable. Its contrasts and radiance will remain unchanged through the centuries.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eDisplay Advice \u0026amp; Shipping\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGallery Advice\u003c\/strong\u003e: Due to its monumental dimensions and its highly pure aquatic theme, this covered jar will shine beautifully if placed as a centerpiece on a dark wood sideboard or on a minimalist pedestal, under warm, direct lighting that will make the depth of its cobalt blue vibrate.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSecure Shipping\u003c\/strong\u003e: Given the exceptional weight (5.850 kg) and the value of the piece, the object will be shipped via a customized, high-density double-boxing protocol, with suspension cushioning and included international ad valorem insurance.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eContents of the shipment \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eLarge covered jar in fine 19th-century porcelain\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eCertificate of authenticity\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"AUTRE","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":60578437202254,"sku":"VAS-CHN-1061","price":600.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0927\/4959\/4958\/files\/grand-vase-balustre-porcelaine-chinoise-bleu-blanc-enfants-pecheurs-qing-1885-chinese-baluster-vase-ambiance-001bis.png?v=1789480467","url":"https:\/\/galeriepopincourt.com\/en\/products\/grand-vase-balustre-porcelaine-chinoise-cent-enfants-1885","provider":"GALERIE POPINCOURT","version":"1.0","type":"link"}