Page 39 - Taber Family Tianquiping Vase Christies Hong Kong May 2018
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THE TECHNICAL CHALLENGES TO CREATE THE
PERFECT TIANQIUPING FORM
燒造完美天球瓶的技術挑戰
The tianqiuping is one of the most difficult shapes to fire successfully 天球瓶對陶工來說是所有器形裡最難燒造成功的一種。它不僅
for a potter. Not only is it large in size, but its weakest point, the 體型碩大，而且它最為脆弱的部位 – 肩頸交接處 – 需要承受
neck join, has to support the weight of the cylindrical neck. Potters 整個頸子的重量，非常容易在窯裡坍塌。歷代陶工為了解決這
of successive dynasties had sought to overcome this problem by
using a sloping shoulder to strengthen this join, and reduce the 個問題，利用斜肩來加強這個交接處的承重度，並且縮短脖子
height of the neck to lessen the weight. However, this creates a 的高度以減輕重量。不過這樣燒出來的器形有些笨重，並且感
profile that is rather stout and bottom heavy. The potter of the 覺上小下大，比例失調。此件天球瓶的陶工成功地拉出頸部完
current tianqiuping managed to create an elegantly curved neck 美的曲線，更增加了脖子的高度，使整個器形顯得秀麗靈動。
profile, while at the same time increased the height of the neck. 這個非常細微的改變事實上需要極高的技巧，並且大幅地增加
This required considerable technical skills and greatly risked the
chance of failing. However, the result is one of the most elegant 了失敗的機率。不過也因為這樣，創造出了中國陶瓷史上最完
tianqiuping forms in the history of Chinese porcelain production. 美的天球瓶器形。
fig. 3 A blue and white tianqiuping, Qianlong mark and period (1736-1795) fig. 4 A famille rose tianqiuping, Qianlong mark and period (1736-1795)
Collection of the Palace Museum, Beijing Collection of the Palace Museum, Beijing
圖三 清乾隆 青花龍紋天球瓶 圖四 清乾隆 粉彩九桃天球瓶
北京故宮博物院藏品 北京故宮博物院藏品
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