Page 129 - A Re-examination of Late Qing Dynasty Porcelain, 1850-1920 THESIS

Victoria and Albert Museum exhibits monumental landscapes (Figure 40). 160 These

vases are inscribed with the Jurentang mark, dating them to 1916. After observing this

pair of vases, it was clear that the porcelain itself is nearly translucent, indicating a high

level of craftsmanship. The landscapes that wrap around the bodies of the vases appear

to be nearly identical, highlighting the reliance on complementary matched pairs during

the Hongxian era. The landscapes are completed in gray enamel. Accent enamel colors

of red and green create an effect of subtle shading throughout the scene. The light

addition of enamel colors is similar to the qianjiang style of painting. 161 Usually found in

landscape painting, qianjiang references the pale umber color used by an artist to denote

areas of lighter colors. This style was popular among the literati who predominately

painted with ink, creating a similar appearance to the monochromatic palette found on

these porcelain examples. When applied to white porcelain the qianjiang decoration

creates a soft, watercolor effect. Similar to the previous landscape porcelain, these vases

utilize a stacked technique while simultaneously incorporating linear perspective. The

brushwork exhibited is delicately applied, emphasizing the skill of the artist. Soft

brushstrokes create the delicate leaves on the trees, while washes of gray create detail

throughout the rocks. The emergence of landscapes on porcelain constitutes a style found

within the porcelain developed by Yuan.

One style of Hongxian porcelain that is prevalent within private collections and

museum collections is depictions of figures. Figural representations were not new to

porcelain decoration; however, they do not share a clear connection to the late styles

160 Rose Kerr, Chinese Ceramics Porcelain of the Qing dynasty, 129.
161 Suk Yee Lai, ed., Innovations and Creations: A Retrospect of 20th Century Porcelain from
Jingdezhen (Hong Kong: Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2004), 23.

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