Page 39 - A Re-examination of Late Qing Dynasty Porcelain, 1850-1920 THESIS

attributed to her helps to establish her as a patron and practitioner of the arts. It also

forms a solid iconographic comparison to Cixi’s porcelain. The porcelain that was

patronized by Cixi is explored, investigating the patterns and motifs associated with her

reign and the meaning behind each auspicious symbol selected. I will establish her both

as a major patron and as a high point within late Qing porcelain innovations. The second

chapter will chronologically follow the decline of the Qing dynasty after Cixi’s death and

introduce Yuan Shikai. Kiln records will establish Yuan’s effort to produce porcelain

and secondary sources will provide evidence supporting the porcelain being successfully

produced. Objects will be analyzed to establish commonalities between documented

Hongxian porcelain, thus I will establish it as fine art of high quality. The final chapter

will work towards an understanding of collecting Chinese porcelain within Britain.

British collections include superior examples of both late dynastic and early Republic

wares. These wares prove critical due to the strong provenance behind each object,

allowing it to be dated with extreme accuracy. The trends cultivated within collecting

th
traditions in Britain helped shape the method behind acquisitions dating to the 19 and

th
20 centuries. Ultimately, an object based analysis will provide evidence for a
reinterpretation of both late imperial patronage and the caliber of this era’s porcelain.

This dissertation presents new perspectives on the porcelain produced during the

late Qing and into the early Republic. By interpreting the quality and motifs of the

porcelain during this time, Cixi and Yuan Shikai will be established as imperial caliber

patrons of porcelain. Ultimately, this study will promote a new understanding of late

dynastic porcelain and restore it within the recognized art historical cannon.

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