Page 74 - Mounted Oriental Porcelain, The Getty Museum

12. PAIR OF EWERS

THE PORCELAIN: Chinese (Kangxi), 1662-1722
THE GILT-BRONZE MOUNTS: French (Paris), 1745-49
5
HEIGHT: i ft., ii /s in. (60 cm); WIDTH: i ft., i in. (33 cm); DIAMETER: SVi in. (21.5 cm)
78.DI.9.I-.2

DESCRIPTION
Each circular baluster-shaped vase with a trumpet-
shaped neck has been mounted as a ewer. The vase is
clasped between a raised foot ring and a pouring lip of
gilt bronze, with a handle linking these two mounts.
The ground is a pale gray-green celadon painted
with a thick white slip and underglaze copper red and
blue, with deer and storks amongst fungus, pine, and
stylized flowering trees below clouds.
The gilt-bronze pouring lip (fig. I2A) is of scrolled
design with applied branches of flowers, seed pods, and
leaves; its underside is chased with broad flutes. At the
opposite side the rim is linked to the foot by a high scroll-
ing handle, split at the top and entwined throughout its
length by a branch of flowers and leaves. The handle
(fig. i2B) clasps the lower part of the vase and is attached FIG. I2.A
to the base mount by a pinned hinge. The foot of the vase
is held by a deep molded ring of gilt bronze, entwined COMMENTARY
with floral sprays. This, in turn, is supported on four high The tall flaring lip of each vase has been cut down.
open-work feet (fig. i2c) of scrolling acanthus leaves. Vase 78.01.9.2 was cracked at the neck and poorly
mended. This has been restored.
MARKS The fungus shown in the decoration is known as
The vase 78.01.9.1 bears one indistinctly struck Lingzhi and is the mushroom of Immortality. The stork
crowned C stamp on the foot mount, which is also and the deer (fig. 120) are the vehicles of the god Shou-
stamped "N°" and "N°. 16." The base of the vase is lao. The shape of the vase is known as a Yen Yen. A
painted with a double circle in underglaze blue and complete unmounted vase of the same shape was sold in
"B-27-a" in red paint. A small label is glued to the base, London in 19So. 1
inscribed "N°. i" in ink. The vase 78.01.9.2 bears two Such ewers were intended purely for decorative use
crowned C stamps on the foot mount, which is also and not as pouring vessels. A similar pair of celadon
2
stamped "N°. 16." The base of the vase, thickly coated vases mounted as ewers is in the Musee du Louvre. A
with opaque shellac, is painted "B-27-b" in red paint. deep blue hexagonal vase in the James A. de Rothschild
These painted figures and stamps are certainly inventory Collection at Waddesdon Manor, England, 3 bears very
numbers used by earlier owners of the vases. similar mounts, which probably were made by the same
fondeur-dseleur.

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