Page 89 - A Re-examination of Late Qing Dynasty Porcelain, 1850-1920 THESIS

Part of the survival of dayazhai porcelain is attributed to the interactions Cixi had

within her political role and her obligations as a ruler to maintain diplomatic

relationships. In this role, Cixi utilized imperial porcelain and paintings as gifts for

foreign officials. Other porcelain wares traveled to the Western world as a direct result of

the looting of the imperial palaces when Beijing was occupied in 1900. Another factor to

consider regarding the spread of the porcelain Cixi commissioned is as a direct result of

imperial transitions. As dynastic power began to weaken and ultimately fall, art objects

were taken and sold. This is especially prevalent during the late Qing dynasty and the

early republic, resulting in some of these wares traveling far from their official

commission by Cixi. As the wares slowly dispersed, later versions of them were also

produced, although they were arguably not of the same quality as the original works Cixi

commissioned. The movement of the wares Cixi commissioned allowed the motifs she

designed to be appropriated in later porcelain produced in China, establishing the works

Cixi ordered as the foundation of many more modern porcelain styles.

Despite this evidence, scholars still believe that the dayazhai wares commissioned

from Jingdezhen are meant to copy earlier Qianlong bowls. However, this study does not

see enough evidence to support the idea of the dayazhai wares as reproductions of

Qianlong vessels. It seems abundantly clear that the dayazhai wares were uniquely based

on Cixi’s aesthetic in painted design. Although thematic content or form can be revived,

the actual style of each porcelain ware is solely associated with Cixi’s influence and

patronage. When analyzing all elements of Cixi’s porcelain quality, these examples are

unique to this era and Cixi’s reign. Agreeing on this front, Longsdorf prompts porcelain

enthusiasts to only compare the dayazhai porcelain to later produced porcelain works

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