Page 110 - A Re-examination of Late Qing Dynasty Porcelain, 1850-1920 THESIS

the end of the Hongxian reign a mere 82 days after it began in March of 1916. 128 After

losing the title of emperor, Yuan attempted to revert back to being president. Despite

these efforts, records indicate that Yuan did not have the people’s support. With the

death of Yuan on June 6, 1916, the last imperial reign in China ended.

Although Yuan did technically take the title of emperor, scholars do not credit

him as a part of the acknowledged Chinese monarchy. Therefore, Yuan is frequently not

included in the art historical scholarship of either late dynastic porcelain or early republic

porcelain.

2.3 Creation of Hongxian

The charged political climate had a direct effect on the porcelain being produced,

because the individuals who acted as patrons of the arts began to transition from imperial

court figures to the heads of the newly formed Chinese republic. This characterization of

the era has led the majority of scholars to disregard late Qing and early republic

porcelain, and overall it is considered a period of supposed deterioration in porcelain

quality and production. However, analysis of the patronage occurring during the late

Qing period reveals that the trends established in late dynastic porcelain patronage

progressed further. The continuity in the styles of porcelain created in China during this

transitional period indicates that porcelain traditions not only continued during this era,

but they also experienced further successful development.

Regarding the era in which the Hongxian porcelain was produced, even if a

broader view is applied to consider all early republic wares, a problem becomes apparent.

128 Richard T. Phillips, China Since 1911 (London: Macmillan Press Ltd, 1996), 24.

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