Page 101 - Decorative Arts, Part II: Far Eastern Ceramics and Paintings, Persian and Indian Rugs and Carpets

1942.9.497-498 (C-350-351)

Pair of Vases, Meiping Shape

Qing dynasty, Kangxi mark and period (1662-1722)
Porcelain with pale blue glaze,
J
1942.9.497: 20.7 x 10.8 (8Vs x 4 /4)
1
1942.9.498: 21.0 x 10.8 (8V4 x 4 A)
Widener Collection

INSCRIPTIONS
Inscribed on each vase in standard script on the base in underglaze These vases most closely resemble one in the Palace
blue in three vertical lines of two characters each: Da Qing Kangxi Museum, Beijing, while the other pair in the National
nian zhi [made in the Kangxi reign of the great Qing dynasty] Gallery collection resembles the meiping vase in the
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, donated by
TECHNICAL NOTES Mary Clark Thompson. 1 Since all these vessels bear
1942.9.497: As with the other vessels of this type, the glaze thins Kangxi reignmarks, it is possible that the variations may
along the edge of the neck and the outwardly curving flange at
the base, as well as along the neck ridge and the two "ears" on the result from their manufacture earlier or later in the peri-
shoulder, so the color is a very pale blue to almost blue-white. od. However, knowledge about the chronology of both
The richer blue color, apparent where extra glaze gathered, con- the evolution of style and reignmarks within this period
trasts both with these very pale areas and with the more standard remains insufficient to reach a definite conclusion. It
pale blue of the rest of the vase. Some tiny protrusions appear seems possible, considering the slightly better finish of
along the somewhat blunted end of the flared foot; a few others this pair of vases, that they might be a later product.
are at the lip. Pinholes are scattered on the white base. 1942.9.498: Nevertheless, one cannot discount the possibility that
The same variations of lighter and darker blue coloration may be modification in form could easily have been undertaken
observed as in 1942.9.497. Dark spots and blisterlike extrusions at the kiln within a relatively short time of the appearance
appear in a few areas, most noticeably on the lip and on the neck. of a vessel type.
There is some crazing of the glaze, principally on the lower, flar- VB
ing section of the body and in the colorless glaze on the base.
Where the flared edge curves around and begins to contract into
the foot, it is even more blunted than 1942.9.497.

PROVENANCE NOTES
Richard Bennett, Northampton, England; sold 1911 to (Gorer, i. A second example at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New
London); (Dreicer & Co., New York, agent for Gorer, London); York, from the Michael Friedsam collection, is significantly
sold 1913 to Peter A. B. Widener, Lynnewood Hall, Elkins Park, shorter (possibly as a result of part of the foot being ground),
Pennsylvania; inheritance from Estate of Peter A. B. Widener by but it has a higher, broader shoulder adorned with an ear motif
gift through power of appointment of Joseph E. Widener, of a distinctly elongated shape, and a thicker neck (see the entry
Elkins Park, Pennsylvania. for the other pair, 1942.9.495—496, p. 83, note i, for bibliography
on all the comparative works).
LTHOUGH THEY DIFFER SLIGHTLY in shape, glaze, and
Aweight from other meiping-shaped vases, the vases in
this pair fall comfortably within the range of variation REFERENCES
seen in other Kangxi-marked pale blue vessels of this type. 1911 Gorer: 73, no. 367.

foot-ring and reignmark foot-ring and reignmark
on base of 1942.9.497 on base of 1942.9.498

P O R C E L A I N S 85