Page 120 - A Re-examination of Late Qing Dynasty Porcelain, 1850-1920 THESIS

are also the only vessels in this study that demonstrate the Huairentang mark, suggesting

that these wine cups were commissioned prior to Yuan taking the imperial throne. The

choice of an imperial color and the imperial icon of a dragon convey Yuan’s desire to

achieve imperial power. Looking specifically at the porcelain of these wine cups, the thin

potting creates a foundation on which the incised design can stand out despite the subtlety

associated with incised motifs. The dating of these wine cups along with the quality of

the porcelain prove the imperial caliber evident in works patronized by Yuan,

th
establishing him as the only imperial patron of the early 20 century.

A private Phoenix, Arizona collection corroborates the fine level of potting

associated with this time period. In this case, the vessel in question is a Monochrome

wine cup (Figure 31). The use of a monochrome glaze originated quite early in Chinese

porcelain history, and in that regard, the cup connects to past traditions in a more modern

form. The technical skill of this vessel is apparent, with very fine, thin porcelain creating

an eggshell-like (tuo tai 脫胎) exterior that can also be traced to the styles of far earlier

porcelain. The use of a rose pink color on the cup highlights the influence of the West,

since pink enamel was only available beginning in the Qing dynasty after Chinese potters

drew from Western techniques to produce this color. The actual monochrome utilized in

the cup itself is a representation of technical achievement combining the vivid, highly

pigmented enamel with an even application producing a flawless finish. Overall, the

level of craftsmanship associated with the eggshell porcelain of this cup exemplifies an

imperial-level skillset. The caliber achieved by these porcelain examples proves that one

of the most difficult porcelain potting techniques was used during the Hongxian era.

While not all of the Hongxian porcelain was completed in an eggshell form, this does

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